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26 DEC 1943. L K
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ENTIRE DIVISION COLLECTEoV^ w“d~ V. *9
AT SEYMOUR. ABOUT 60 MILES INLAND MELBOURNE
FROM MELBOURNE 0 ^ I
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AUCKLAND
NEW
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£>
GILBERT IS.
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^°v
y 162ND REGT
V AND 641ST TD BN
FROM FORT LEWIS
TO FORT DIX
IN FEB 1942;
LEFT BROOKLYN NAVY YARD
3 MARCH 1942
FOR BORO BORO
IN SOCIETY ISLANDS VIA
PANAMA CANAL.
ARRIVING 25 MARCH 1942
SOCIETY ISLANDS
— -ys*
?>'o*
CONVOY SPLITS:
PART TO AUCKLAND.
PART TO BRISBANE
ROUTE OF THE 41ST INFANTRY DIVISION
IN WORLD WAR II
O
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a* &if i <»f
Victor Seiwu&far
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THE JUNGLEERS
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PAPUA
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★
NEW GUINEA
★
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
AITAPE
BIAK
HOLLANDIA
NASSAU BAY
WAKDE-ARARE-TOEM
PALAWAN
ZAMBOANGA
JOLO
SANGA SANGA ISLAND
SULU ARCHIPELAGO
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Copyright 1948 by The 4lst Infantry Division Association
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All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission.
For information address Infantry Journal Press, 1115 17th Street NW, Washington 6, D.C.
First Edition
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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We dedicate this book hesitantly. We feel that some of you expect
us to recognize the dead, to lay a wreath upon the tomb and light
another taper in remembrance. We sense that others will anticipate a
healthy tribute to the living, a host of halleluiahs for the task accom-
plished. We shy from both. Those who died need no psalm from us;
their sacrifice is its own dedication. Those of us who live have surely
reaped our harvest of acclaim and now must look beyond such subsidy
for something else.
We therefore dedicate this book to that for which — knowingly or
unknowingly — the dead gave up their lives and for which the living
now seek desperately, to the possibility of an unfettered peace, and to
the hope the battle and terror and sudden death which fill these pages
may never again be visited upon the world.
FRANK W. KERR, President
4lst Infantry Division Association
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Contents
DIVISION COMMANDER'S MESSAGE ix
FOREWORD xi
Chapter 1: WE BEGIN PREPARATION 1
Chapter 2: THE FALLEN COMMANDER 12
Chapter 3 : OVERSEAS TO AUSTRALIA 22
Chapter 4: BAPTISM OF FIRE 31
Chapter 5: THE MOPPING-UP PHASE 43
Chapter 6: SEVENTY-SIX DAYS OF COMBAT 51
Chapter 7: A NICKNAME WELL EARNED 61
Chapter 8: BACK TO AUSTRALIA 70
Chapter 9: THE BLOODY BUTCHERS STRIKE 77
Chapter 10: THE AITAPE CAMPAIGN 89
Chapter 11: WAKDE FALLS 93
Chapter 12: BLOODY BIAK 102
Chapter 13: RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES 133
Chapter 14: VICTOR IV: ZAMBOANGA 143
Chapter 15: VICTOR V: MINDANAO 159
Chapter 16: PEACEFUL INVASION 167
Appendix
HONOR ROLL 180
DECORATIONS AND AWARDS 182
BATTLE HONORS 183
COMMENDATIONS 184
COMMANDERS OF THE SUNSET DIVISION 187
SS Sunset LAUNCHING 197
"THE FRONT LINES” 199
WHAT OTHERS SAID 201
TROOP LISTS 205
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Maps
1: ORIENTATION MAP, NEW GUINEA 30
2: SANANANDA FRONT 34
3: ROADBLOCK POSITIONS ON SANANANDA 35
4: ORIENTATION MAP, HUON GULF AREA 50
5: NASSAU BAY AREA 56
6: SALAMAUA, BITOI RIDGE AND MUBO SECTOR 60
7: ORIENTATION MAP FOR HOLLANDIA 76
8: D-DAY SITUATION, HUMBOLDT BAY AREA 81
9: OPERATIONS OF THE RECKLESS TASK FORCE 84
10: AITAPE OPERATION 88
11: THE LANDING AT ARARE AND THE JUMPOFF TO WAKDE 96
12: WAKDE ISLAND 100
13: LANDING AND OPERATIONS AT BIAK 104
14: THE MOKMER POCKET 108
15: OPERATIONS LEADING TO THE CAPTURE OF MOKMER DROME 112
16: SITUATION AT 1230K, 15 JUNE, 1944 BIAK ISLAND 116
17: PLAN FOR THE DIVISION S ATTACK ON BIAK 118
18: SITUATION AS OF 1800K, 20 JUNE 1944, BIAK ISLAND 120
19: THE SUMPS, BIAK ISLAND 122
20: OPERATIONS AT BIAK, 20 JUNE TO 10 AUGUST 1944 124
21: ATTACK OF 163d INFANTRY, 26-27 JUNE 1944 126
22: BOSNEK-BIAK, SCHOUTEN ISLANDS 128
23: ORIENTATION MAP: RECONQUEST OF THE PHILIPPINES 132
24: ORIENTATION MAP: PALAWAN 134
25: ENEMY ORDER OF BATTLE ON PALAWAN 135
26: PALAWAN: LANDING SITE 137
27: PALAWAN: OPERATION MAP 141
28: ORIENTATION MAP: ZAMBOANGA PHASE OF VICTOR IV 143
29: ZAMBOANGA PHASE OF VICTOR IV 1 44
30: PENINSULA PHASE OF VICTOR IV 146
31: BASIL AN ISLAND PHASE OF VICTOR IV 150
32: JOLO PHASE OF VICTOR IV 151
33: INITIAL LANDING ON MINDANAO 158
34: CENTRAL MINDANAO: VICTOR V 162
35: SUMMARY OF THE MINDANAO CAMPAIGN 165
36: OCCUPATION AREA OF THE 41st DIVISION ON HONSHU 168
vii
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Major General Jent A. Doe
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To the officers and men of the 41 st Infantry Division, those who made the Sunset Division the most famous
fighting outfit in the Southwest Pacific:
This book gives the history of your unprecedented
accomplishments over a period of four years of combat
in World War II. They were, for many of you, painful
years through which you fought your way valiantly,
step by step, from Australia to the distant final objec-
tive, Japan. The magnificent manner in which our
Division relentlessly met, defeated, and pursued the
enemy shall forever be an inspiration to all military
men who believe in Democracy and Freedom.
Herein are transcribed names and events which will
help those who were not there to understand; and will
be for those of us who stood together a permanent
record of some of the experiences we shared. It is not
possible to set down the full story in writing. Only a
hint of the real hardships, sufferings and anxieties
which we experienced; of the courage, determination,
and heroism demonstrated in all units, can be given.
The full story can only be known by those who
participated.
In the first operation at Sanananda and Salamaua
our troops were inadequately clothed, fed, armed, and
15 September 1945
equipped, but even so accomplished the incredible with
barest essentials. Subsequently, as shipping improved,
making more equipment and supplies available, and as
units gained combat experience, our blows were struck
with overwhelming speed and power. The operations
in the Sulu Archipelago constitute the modern am-
phibious campaign; and at the conclusion of the Zam-
boanga operation the Division had reached its peak in
combat efficiency. By that time battalion commanders
were able to fight their commands independently with
only general direction from higher headquarters. Junior
leaders had acquired confidence and skill gained by
repeated combat successes. The Division was ready
and prepared for the invasion of the Japanese home-
land.
The honor of having commanded this Division is,
and will always remain with me, a matter of deepest,
heartfelt pride.
Let us keep alive, through our association, the
memory of those who did not return, and the comrade-
ship fused in the fires of combat.
•" JOtrt.
JENS A. DOE
Major General, U. S. Army
ix
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Foreword
T HIS IS THE STORY of one of Uncle Sam’s
"fightingest” divisions. Technically, the 41 st In-
fantry Division belongs to the States of the great
Northwest. However, men from each State sooner or
later found their way into the ranks of the Division and
gave their blood, sweat, and their lives, to take the
Sunset Division — MacArthur’s Jungleers — from the
States of the Northwest to Australia, through the caul-
dron of New Guinea, back to the Philippines, and then
to the very threshold of Tokyo.
The story told in this book cannot be credited to any
one person. The rifle-toting infantrymen, the cannon-
eers of the field artillery and the men of the supply
services coordinated their efforts to bring about the
final crushing defeat of our enemies in the Pacific. All
ranks — from the highest general to the lowest private
— shared alike in achieving victory.
Just as these deeds were performed by many, so was
the writing of this book an achievement of many. The
idea was conceived in the Philippines at a time when
the Jungleers were bending every effort to prepare for
the invasion of Japan. Then came the unexpected — but
most welcome — surrender of the enemy and what had
been just an idea now began to materialize into a con-
crete product. The first research and writing was done
in the very heart of the enemy homeland. With the
inactivation of the 4 1st Division on 31 December 1945,
the editor was transferred to Washington, D. C. to
complete the task.
The persons who gave so much to make this book
possible are far too numerous to mention by name,
but the editor is most grateful to the following: The
Board of Governors, 4 1st Infantry Division Association;
Major General Jens A. Doe; Colonel O. P. Newman;
Mr. Herman Edwards of the Portland Oregonian; Mas-
ter Sergeant Frank W. Kerr; Lieutenant Leonard Jer-
main; Lieutenant Huldah Doron; Colonel Joseph I.
Greene and the staff of the Infantry Journal; Colonel
Frank Arthur; Chief Warrant Officer Charles C. Carver;
Major Warren T. Hunt; Private Hargis Westerfield;
Sergeant Mel Sterling; the small band of men who did
the research while the Division was stationed in Japan;
The Historical Division, War Department Special Staff;
the Records Division, Adjutant General’s Office, War
Department; the Fort Lewis Sentinel ; and the countless
others whose cooperation and contributions have added
to the finished product.
Let it be a part of the record that we have always
faced the fact that it would be impossible to please
everyone with this book. The story undoubtedly could
be told in as many different ways as there were men
who saw it and lived through it. But some basis had to
be chosen and the editor elected to rely upon records on
file in the War Department, supplemented by news-
paper stories, some eyewitness accounts, and diaries.
We sincerely hope that the men of the 41 st Division
and their loved ones will cherish this book through the
years and that it will serve as a constant reminder that
those who died did so that we might walk the face of
the earth in everlasting peace and happiness.
William F. McCartney
1st Lieut. , Chemical Corps
xi
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Everything is as 1 expected to see it, in splendid shape. This
is one of my oldest and proudest divisions. Its achievements
have been of the first order. I have the greatest affection for
and pride in the 41 st Division.
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
After an Inspection of the Division in the
Philippines, 15 June 1945
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Chapter 1 : We Begin Preparation
T WICE within the past quarter of a century the
men of the great Northwestern States have left
their families, homes and jobs and have sailed
to the far corners of the world to fight for Democracy.
The familiar red-gold-and-blue shoulder insignia of
the 4 1st Infantry Division first made its appearance in
World War I. Then, as at the beginning of World
War II, the 4lst was composed of Northwestern States'
National Guard units and was predominantly composed
of National Guardsmen from Oregon, Idaho, Montana
and Washington, supplemented by Selective Service
enrol lees from every state in the Union. But it was the
destiny of the original Sunset Division, after it had
reached Europe, to be broken up and to have its men
used as replacements in other divisions. Consequently,
the original 4lst Division, the fifth division to go over-
seas, was denied the distinction of fighting as a unit.
When the American troops returned from France
after World War I and began readjustment to civilian
life, many members of the Division returned to their
National Guard status. In addition to the infantry
companies and artillery batteries the reorganized Guard
included other units — signal, medical, quartermaster
and engineer. The schedule consisted of weekly drill
nights and summer encampments, which meant in
nearly every case that the civilian-soldier had to give
up his annual two-weeks vacation. Officers and men
devoted thousands of hours at home to strictly military
problems. Summer encampments found them at Camp
Withycombe, Camp Clatsop, Medford, Vancouver Bar-
racks, Camp Murray, Fort Lewis and Fort Harrison at
Helena, Montana.
In 1929 the late George Ared White was promoted
from Brigadier to Major General in the National
Guard and took command of the 4 1st. He remained
in command until his death on 23 November 1941.
General White was a genius at military organization
and was also a politician of great talents when the needs
of his beloved Division demanded political leverage.
The training of the 4 1st broadened its scope year
after year. In August 1937 the Northwest saw its
greatest concentration of troops since 1917, when thou-
sands converged on old Fort Lewis, in maneuvers in-
volving some 14,000 men along the milky, glacier-fed
Nisqually River. General White commanded a "Blue”
Army of 4 1st Division soldiers 9,000 strong, charged
with the task of crossing the Nisqually, defended by a
"Red” Army of 5,000 under the command of Brigadier
General George C. Marshall, then commanding the 5th
Infantry Brigade at Vancouver Barracks, later Chief of
Staff of the greatest army ever assembled on the face
of the earth.
Finding a point on the Nisqually undefended by
the "Reds,” probably because of the difficulties it
offered, Brigadier General Thomas E. Rilea, com-
manding the 41 st Division’s 82d Infantry Brigade,
sent his troops over the stream in a daring night cross-
ing, and the maneuvers ended with the Division suc-
cessfully accomplishing its mission — just as it was to
do a short time later on the battlefields throughout the
far-flung Pacific Theater.
Opposed to the 4lst in those August 1937 maneuvers
were troops of the Regular Army’s 3d Infantry Divi-
sion. From that time these two divisions were to be
friendly, but earnest, rivals until the fortunes of war
sent the Sunsetters to the Southwest Pacific while the
3d opposed the Axis in North Africa and later on
Continental Europe. Rivalry was keen as to which divi-
sion would depart first for overseas and when the time
came the 4 1st received the nod.
War clouds had become darkly ominous in the sum-
mer of 1940 and the Division’s summer encampment
at Fort Lewis in July and August lengthened from the
customary two weeks to three. President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt, in his message to Congress on 16
May, had spoken of the desirability of having authority
to call out the National Guard. A new note of tense-
ness and realism was evident as the summer maneuvers
progressed and everywhere there was talk that the unit
would be back in camp before many weeks passed.
General White mentioned it to key officers and when
Guardsmen returned to their homes they left much
equipment, including tentage, at Camp Murray, the
National Guard encampment adjacent to Fort Lewis
proper. Around 27 August all officers of the Division
received "immediate action” letters from General
White instructing them to prepare for federal induction
by 16 September. In towns and cities of Oregon, Wash-
ington, Idaho and Montana the Guard units intensified
recruiting, determined to bring their outfit to full
strength by the date set for federal induction. Some
did report to Fort Lewis better than one hundred per
cent strong.
Paperwork incident to federal induction proved to
be tremendous, but long before the date arrived Gen-
eral White had the Division’s key noncommissioned
officers familiarize themselves with the induction pro-
gram and the papers were ready long in advance of
their need.
Federal induction meant that many men and officers
had to be weeded out. Discharges were granted to men
who had persons solely dependent upon them for fi-
nancial support. Some were over age and a few were
too young, having misrepresented their age in order
to enlist. Vacancies were filled by new enlistments.
Physical examinations resulted in some losses among
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«ppp— — « m ■>.'
wp^^***-
WIr
Swm,' from ci. Jlif Dithion tav i»w at fort iewit, Washington, in September 1941
:>■!(} :W;*?ptigj na I from
OF MICHIGAN
WE 0BGIN PREPARATION
.die officm, and Reservist^ w£k? aligned ih art effort to
fill the gap*.'.
On 16 September ' ivJO, the. i\%i got the inevitable
call, ahd the Division Was ready. Do that same day m
the Natton'5 i.apital President Roosevelt affixed ho
t h?^ 1 .Ser v ic^ Acri prpy ief
first peacetime draft in the history of the Ehuted Stafe ^
The country w*$ girding itself tor a wax which every-
one' hoped would never come, hut which rnany knew
could not be averted,
Tbe-adl for National Guardsmen and Selective Serv-
ice enrol lees was for a one-year period of military
service. The Army at that time iiidudtxj but twenty
seven in ?antry djb’biorts, nine being Regular Army while,
the remammg eighteen were National Guard diGsibosv
The. 4 1 $t was one of four National Guard divisions to
be summoned on the original 16 September date, Units
immediately reported W. then home ..armories, from;
where they began an orderly process of movement to
Camp. Murray. On 2 } September, one week after fed-
eial induchofw the entire Division had dosed in on rhe
Washington camp,
The Division, with ns friendly rival, the 3d Division,
and some other troops, was activated its iX Carps,
commanded by Major Genm! Kenyon A; Joyc^ Xieu-
renant . General John 1. DeWift commanded fourth
Army, the next higher echelon Upon aroyal a| Camp
Murray the* Division numbered something in excess of
1 4 v ®Cym^ti and officers, The
brought it: Ux wartime strength of 1 H MHi.
The first and. most vital job facing the Guardsmen
was .the organisation and building of “Swamp' 4 Murray
into a ) ivabte, cbm foil a hie winter train mg tamp, Head'
H*oclquari*rs of th* 4 Jst- titYisioti A* rafof h*wii }f\ 1 941
q utters of fiie 66th Artillery ferigadg Limled an envi-
able site, setting up Rs camp on the; edge of blue,
i&^jsmshi Am£rit<m Lafcg, the only relatively dry
and gx-assy spot in the entire area The three artillery
tegimeA.tS' : the line, separated from head-
quarters by a large muddy parade ground, While.- the
infantry brigades were scattered on either side of High-
way 90, all the way from Tacoma to Tilhcum, The
now legendary khaki-colored pyramidal teru> stretched
over woodep frames served as home, There wearsome
kitchens and showers in permanent buildings but the
Sunsettfcr$ had the use of only fgmpo t % cy shucf U i es .
Some people were indignwf. o*vet living conditions but
Division medical oifigtfrs tited health records m disprove
ever growing gossip -that epidemics of rcSpirainry dh
eases w-ere: numerous.
Oh die second day after induction, and from .that day
n ? i. for almost six months, the -list s Camp: Murray was
typical of hundreds id other ten r camps which had
sprung up over ArnenCa The men cursed the pba: for
the mud., cold, and remoti^ness* then lauded it because
it was built ftoiU almost nothing hut tbeit own in-
genuity. Frigid, magnificent Mt. Rainier looked down
over the Surisetrers on the dear sunny days while the
• were phfd men trained for war in . the evergreen western’ forests,
. were p,oc* ^ peaceful. vallm-iof the .NisCjuaDy River, the little
MB
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tii.fi&tf. Art Maty limit m Jur/e 1941 (if) and tS) Units of tha, 4 ? ft tfivisioo pats in r*vi.aw vhiia -'Attoy and efy; tlcrn notables took op horn the
YV. : . V- >£y; /'.■ v ra*»>**ng sttwd df f o*i in September 1,94 1 1417 he 163 <j Infantry Bond stands- inspect fan, n
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WE BEGIN PREPARATION
5
farming towns like Rainier, bound together by a web
of country roads, the rolling quiet countryside that
stretches from the shores of Puget Sound to the Cascade
Mountains. Camp Murray lay about forty-five miles
from Seattle, while 150 miles south from Murray was
Portland, city of roses and charming girls. Between the
camp and Seattle was grey, smoky Tacoma and, south
again between Fort Lewis and Portland, lay Olympia,
capital of Washington. Camp Murray grew cold, wet
and lonely as winter fell, but it was not completely
unendowed.
The government was busy building the huge Fort
Lewis cantonment which later became "permanent”
home to the men of the 4 1st. By October 1 Swamp
Murray had been converted into decent living quarters
except for the everlasting trimming which still would
be going on if the unit had never left.
October saw the beginning of training. Basic train-
ing problems and teamwork were first on the agenda.
Men learned to work together in squads, then by pla-
toons, companies, regiments, brigades, and finally as a
whole division. Basic training was rigid, the hours
being long and the supervisors tough. From the very
beginning at least one field problem a week was con-
ducted and there were overnight bivouacs scheduled,
I mainly to practice the theory of communications
preached in camp during the day. The vast Fort Lewis
I range offered hundreds of acres of every type of terrain
for training and maneuver. By November the artillery
range, centered around bleak Nisqually Lake, was in
j operation and each day the big guns rolled out of camp
I in the early morning mist, to return again by the chilly
sunset light at the end of a fast, hard day. By Decem-
ber, in addition to stepped-up daily training schedules
in the field, two-day problems were under way, with
the infantry and artillery deployed over the range in
tactical defensive and offensive operations.
\ r General George C. Marshall, then Chief of Staff of
v Uhe Army, injected new ideas into the training. Differ-
. ^*\ent arms and services were combined to form combat
f Steams. A battalion of artillery joined forces with an
1 ' infantry regiment andean engineer com pany ~so~t h a t
v th e co mmanding officer could go into the field with a
little army of his own, self-sufficient to live and fight
foj_days and weeks at a time. This objective was to
h e fulfi lled in later days of hard fighting in the jungles
and islan ds of the Pacific Theater where Nature and
terrain demanded the employment of small combat
teams rather than full divisions or armies^ This early
and far-sighted training at Camp Murray and Fort
Lewis made the formation of such combat teams much
easier and more effective when needed under actual
combat conditions.
Everything did not go smoothly during the early
days. Every man could not realize the necessity for this
severe training with the hardships and sacrifices which
it entailed. The story is told that one platoon of the
l62d Infantry Regiment had to make two marches one
day because some of the men filled their packs with
pillows, making an impressive looking, but light load.
Much to the chagrin of all, their company commander
caught on.
While the majority of the Division was hard at work
on a training program, hundreds of officers and men
were sent to special schools: Infantry, Artillery, Ord-
nance, Cooks and Bakers, and many others. Successful
completion of these highly concentrated courses meant
qualified officers and men to do a better job, and in
many cases promotions.
The men trained diligently and by Christmas they
were acclimated, eager troops. Never did they lose
sight of the date, 16 September 1941, the day of release,
the end of the government’s one year military training
program. Some men were soldiers preparing for war,
but the mass of junior officers and enlisted men were
"play” soldiers, thinking in terms of continuing peace,
even while they marched, drilled, fired on the ranges,
operated communications and donned the old service
gas mask to walk through heavy concentrations of
chloracetophenone and adamsite. The dormant threat
of the Rising Sun in the Far East and the threat of
Hitler’s hordes in Europe did not bother most of them.
There were only a few who anticipated the day of
battle, and recognized on the horizons to the east and
west the roar of guns mightier than their own.
As a reward for the fine job done by all, General
White announced on 1 December that an eleven-day
furlough would be granted at Christmas time to all
members of the Division. Homesick GIs loudly cheered
the news but when the long-awaited day arrived some
members of the Grants Pass company couldn't keep
their furlough dates because some of the men had con-
tracted measles and the unit was quarantined. How-
ever, between 10,000 and 11,000 men did get home for
the holidays and appropriate entertainment was pro-
vided for those remaining behind.
Back from the well deserved rest the Sunsetters dug
into their training with a new vigor. Three months of
the twelve had been put behind them. Only nine
months remained — if nothing went wrong.
A new problem was at hand. The Division must in-
crease its strength from 14,000 to 18,300. In February
the first of 7,000 Selective Service men began to arrive.
Actually, they were to boost the Division’s strength to
around 21,000. The problem was to conduct basic
training for these green men, and at the same time con-
tinue advanced training for the Guardsmen. General
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
route to Hunter Liggett With Mount Hood in the hock ground. Right; Th* convoy halts m Ptichoco Pass. California;
Left: A convoy on an Oregon highway »n
**£ ' - ■•:’■■■, P . PPipil. , -,v-j- r„ ,*,... JL... v ii v ,,..^ ... . pimp!, ipp
White selected 5,000 Of ht^ be$t. <#fice'r.s Opd noneoms .moved over the forested 'pf^ias/ yhr&tded mix<m tor-
to form a teaching t&dre selectees into shape, tuous roads, crossed stre^s^ Udv^dng;, affaekmg and
Work at fort ; cirptonmerit had been withdrawing under, covet of tot^l darkntess* ever)’ vehi-
progressing slowly but some at the heated frame bat- cle, every light blacked out How well this training
racks were ready tor occupancy. In Februaiy 1941 the was to pay off a short time later ! Oh the night of 28
men began the trek st mile down the road to the new ApdLThe Division movedinto defacvlve positions for
4 (st Division cantonmefrtktAvo square miles of gleaih- the start of maneuvers which were to have their climax
tag white barracks, warehouses* theaters, niesshaUs, oa 3 May with a smashing, coordinated attack.,
orderly rooms and service dubs. Just before the men The maneuvers had drawn "McNair's Flying Circus/’
had departed . for. the holiday season, General White headed by Lieutenant General Lesley j, McNair, %v ho,
had trucked the entire Divi^l^'s per$oa*fet dfrfcfo to see as Chief of Staff of GHQ, had direct supervision nf
the sprawling new area. Now, two months later, the all training. On his staff was a promising. . young lieu-',
men moved into the area for a stay of twelve months, tenant colonel by the name of Marie W; Clark Also
. though at that time, they didn't realise ft would be" that present was Colonel Dwight D, then GB^f
long; Priority for the new quarters "was giVetv to the of Staff of IX Carps, .It was at the concision of this
draftees who were Fresh from civ.jjiao life and. less able inspection that the discerning McNair rated the. 41st
than the seasoned Guardsmen to. stand the rtgori of as the top-ranking National Guard division-. and one
living in the tents of Swamp Murray. General White of the three top divisions of the whole Array,
cornmued to live m his tent at Camp Murray, directing. Following thw pt oblem Corps Headquarters author-
the separate training- efforts, By mid-April, however, ixed a vacation and a tired bat happy group of men
entire Division was housed in the newly const rutted with a rnondFs pay burning botes in their pockets
comfortable barracks, headed for home. When they returned to Fort Lewis
The regiments still were framing. a$ ccmhat teams they were, ready for their part in the "biggest: show of
and the men were learning new battle problems in the military might ever seen on the Pacific 'Coast/' With
Ramier-ftoy region along the hanks, of the Nisqually high-ranking Army -and Navy officers,- Governor
By now* seven months of hard tmthmg bad been Charles A. Sprague of Oregon and Governor Arthur
completed and the men had learned 'their lessons well. B, Lang lie of Washington m/the reviewing stand, and
They were ready -to perform a$ : a- division. At the close 15,000 spectators massed on the: parade ground, the
of April and early in May they were scheduled to go 4 1st Division. 3d Division and other units, 45,000
through a series of three division field exercises which Strong, passed in review while planes roared overhead,
were to be the largest, and the most difficult, of the Spring and summer brought 'garnson life of the
large-scale training assignments yet given them. These highest traditional plane, and with it rumors that the
ilso were to Mag m cenff ed the division' m$r 4t$r would ’’fight" fob six weeW on the dry, scorched,
neuvers for the 4 1st m the Fort Lewis area. sun-baked hills of California's binunland'. Next was
The men had drilled long for this assignment. The. the long march to Hunter Liggett Military Reservation
drivers, especially, had; developed, cats' eyes as they for the long planned fourth Army maneuvers.
Public- D#
Enfertaiamdnl during rS » J94i maneuYvr* in California wen largely n matter of proytdfng. yo Ur own K#re mon of fh * 162d inf awry £#t together
for x> songful
Beginning 19 May 194 1, the Division departed by 2,000 officers and men. Other troops of the 4 1st Divi-
rumblmg truck convoys and trains tor the !J 00 mile sitin' t . 3d: Division and IX Corps traveUed lh twenty-
march from Tort Lewis to Jofon, CalHo?iua‘ ?; where the seven troop trams, which left Fort Lewis on 22 May,
next ; two months found 65,000 troops engaged in the their arrival coinciding with that of the motor eidurnm,
largest ;md one of the most r^tistic - war 'gaffes ever As the last mtkpr column reached Bend the towns-
to be conducted on the Pacific Coast people $0 cheer. The reason
Tbe first nf four long motor columns started south pany l. I 62 d Infantry, was a Bend National Guard
and made ih first stop ,u Vancouver Barracks fhnjy unit. In celebration of the homecoming a parade was
the next moving fter column moved across the Infer- Ctei?£r*tt Rilea granted overnight passes to
state Bridge, eastward through- Portland, Gr esharn and the mea
over die Wapmuu Highway fp Bend for the second Men wtil long remember the hospitality of the peev
night s bivouac: T^rttyffive hundred officers ^ pk ot Marysville, Calif of rua, City after ti.Qr vied w kb
in four hundred vehicles, comprising, troops of the one another to make the visiting troops welcome but
8 1 st Infantry Brigade and detachments from the. f i6th : Marysville outdid alt others.
Quartermaster, II 6th MedicaLahd IT 6th Engineer Regk The final column reached the reservation on 28
meruv made up this first column. Qri the third day it. May G.dumns of the A 1st had m\y one major accident
moved from Iknd to Klamath Falls; on the fourth day during the trip and xhb did not involve any loss of life
to Red Bluff'*. California, the following day to . Marys- Health of the command was excellent and bfilyskteeu
vi\U) the sixth day to Modesfe On the seventh day of the Division's 18 ( tK)0 rnen werehospitiliked, Cali-
it reached jolou f the destination fomu sunchine had tinned the Northsvesteniers. to the
The Second column of 4 Ut troops to cover the route tint of then Indian comrades of Montana's 163d In fan
was 4,000 men of the 66th Field Artillery Brigade, try. giving them their fust taste of the heat they Were
The third convoy. i‘4 troops iududecT' what re- soon to encounter in: the fac-oir Southwest Pacific,
maitfed of the 11 6th Engineer, 116th Quartermaster Division training and maneuvers took place during the
lldth Medieil Regimeots, 4Ist Signal Company and ferst ..three weeks of the period! while the last ten days,
4l5t Ordnance Company. The final convoy was com- beginning 21 June, consisted -of operations -pitting a
posed of the 82d Infantry Brigade and numbered about Blue army of 34,000 troops of the 4lst Division 'and
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
WlmmMt
f!J A 116th Medical bottahan convoy i$l Staff o Bfcert of fourth Afmy.. rnf/vd‘n0 Co/ v Qwight 0 ^iidphowor (fourth froth lefiJ, at a critique fciff&wipg;
a ftrld problem. f3 1 41 it Division .Artillery personnel working m a command post . (4) A 41 si Division Artillery vn it in the held.
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HbT
A\ YV
1 ’ ■
WE BEGIN PREPARATION
11
arms and resorted to fists to settle the issue. The west-
ern Washington maneuvers lacked this realism. In
brief the plan for the maneuvers was:
A great Oriental army and navy was approaching the
west coast. Seattle, Portland and Tacoma were certain
objectives of attack. The enemy surely would strike at
the harbor defenses and defense plants. Defending
American forces were not to know where, how or when
the enemy would strike. The maneuver was to test the
troops’ ability to mobilize and move from a cantonment,
ready to fight after an unexpected attack.
The. maneuvers got under way at midnight on 10
August when the mythical invading force was reported
som ewhere off , the W est Coast under cover of a dense
fo g bank . ) For two days the “invaders” waged a “war
or nerves and then struck at the mouth of the Colum-
bia River, at the Puget Sound forts and McChord Field.
The 4 1st deployed south and west, spreading out over
the heavily wooded lower peninsula. Making a record
run from California, the 7th and 40th Divisions swung
into line beside the 3d and 4lst Divisions and the
maneuvers ended.
Opposing the defending forces was a handful of
California Regulars, already stationed in chosen spots
along the Washington coastline, awaiting the orders
of the umpires. These Red forces were magically trans-
formed by the umpires into sizable forces to suit the
needs of the maneuvers. A squad of Reds became a
battalion or regiment and captured Blues but could
not be captured. Near McCleary, members of a 4lst
patrol ran into a dozen jeeps, thought they could
handle the situation easily and attacked. They were
surprised to discover that these twelve jeeps repre-
sented forty-eight tanks. At Montesano, the umpires
created two hundred tanks out of thin air, to the con-
sternation of the realistic Sunsetters. Artillerymen stand-
ing by silent guns and fighting a paper war whose front
was far away over the hills, welcomed the opportunity
to fire several blank rounds for the benefit of news
Blacked-out troop movements through the dark, drip-
ping forests, breaking camp at midnight to move men
and ponderous equipment over long unused logging
roads, the transportation of supplies in a never-ending
procession of trucks, all of these were realistic.
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and General
Marshall had been among those witnessing the final
phases of the maneuvers. At a later press conference
both expressed satisfaction with the improvement
shown. Meanwhile, the halls of Congress were rever-
berating with talk of continuing service beyond the one-
year period and the whispers of an American entry into
the war were growing more loud and distinct. Yet, in
August 1941 — less than four months before Pearl Har-
bor — the 4 1st still was short of weapons, using Ersatz
machine guns made of wood, tanks so designated by
placards on truck windshields, and an odd assortment
of other innovations. War, not in months, but in the
hopes and prayers of Americans, still was far away.
As soon as the Division returned to garrison, the
sun came out maliciously to shine almost uninterrupted
through another perfect Indian summer. Talk in Con-
gress had materialized into action and the raw National
Guard outfit federalized just one year ago was a veteran
force facing at least another winter and spring of sol-
diering. But spirits remained high because there was
another furlough, this time fifteen days, in the offing.
And in September 1941, after a full military review
before General DeWitt, held on the dusty 3d Division
parade ground, the men scattered throughout the coun-
try for another two-week sojourn of civilian life. Little
did they realize that their next furloughs would see
them walking the streets of such far-off places as Mel-
bourne, Sydney and Rockhampton, Australia, nor that
those furloughs would come only after the 41 st had
received its baptism of fire and its hallowed dead had
been counted and buried, after the bays and villages
of an island called New Guinea were to be as familiar
to them as the rivers, lakes, towns and cities of the
photographers.
United States.
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Chapter 2: The Fallen Commander
S ADLY, men of the 4lst learned of the death of
their beloved commander, Major General George
A. White, who died at his home in Clackamus,
Oregon, 23 November 1941. Illness had overtaken the
Division commander during the last days of the Hunter
Liggett maneuvers but he refused the advice of physi-
cians, who urged him to rest, and went through the
trying western Washington war games. Only those
closest to him realized he was a very sick man, but a
man determined to carry on until he could relinquish
command for perhaps a brief period of treatment and
recuperation. The night of the Division’s review he
went to his residence on the post, unable to attend a
function for which he had made plans. His passing
marked the end of the first phase of military life for
the Division.
General White was more to his men than the two-
star commander who controlled their destiny and much
of their everyday lives. He was a man who lived with
and as a soldier among soldiers. With him, the enlisted
man came first. Many were the stories told to illustrate
that side of his character. One had its setting in the
fir woods of western Washington during the August
maneuvers of 1941. Everything in the maneuver was
supposed to simulate battle conditions as nearly as pos-
sible. Two ’must" rules were that troops carry gas
masks and wear steel helmets at all times. The helmets
were far from comfortable. Every man knew better,
but occasionally a soldier would ditch the heavy head-
gear. That’s what a noncom in the signal truck had
done when General White, walking alone from his
tent, came upon the soldier unexpectedly.
"Haven’t you got a helmet?” the General asked.
"Yes, sir," replied the noncom apprehensively.
"Get it on," said the General, without raising his
voice, and added, "Do you think I like to wear the
damned thing any more than you do?"
For that offense a commissioned officer would have
drawn a rebuke that would have stung him for a week.
The General had his own method of dealing with en-
listed men. His formula was sternness tempered with
a sympathetic understanding of the soldier’s makeup.
Men in the ranks swore by him.
During the long march through California to the
Hunter Liggett maneuvers entertainment programs
were offered the troops in virtually every town. All too
often this entertainment took the form of dinners for
high-ranking officers and dances to which only com-
missioned officers were invited. Some towns extended
themselves to entertain the enlisted men but most feted
the officers royally and virtually left the soldiers to fend
for themselves.
General White shuttled back and forth along the
12
line of march, observing the troop movements, watch-
ing the columns roll through towns and cities. At one
particular town he arrived at the bivouac area just as
a civic delegation began to discuss plans for the enter-
tainment of troops that night with the commanding
officer of the column. The delegation was introduced
to the General and he invited them to continue with
their plans. He stood listening. Finally he interrupted:
"Do I understand you are planning these parties for
the officers?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," one of the delegates replied.
"That’s fine," said the General. "What are you
doing for the enlisted men?”
"Why, we haven’t we were thinking about "
It was evident they hadn’t gotten to that stage of
the planning.
"Gentlemen," said the General, very firmly and
quietly, "we appreciate your hospitality. It’s fine of
you to entertain us. But the officers have money. They
can entertain themselves. The enlisted men are the
ones who need to be entertained, and they have been
overlooked too many times while the officers were
wined and dined. Now if you want to entertain, take
care of the enlisted men first. If there is anything left,
then you can take care of the officers. Otherwise, by
God, I’ll restrict every officer to the bivouac area."
General White was intensely proud of the 4lst Divi-
sion. During the western Washington maneuvers he
was irked when news stories spoke of the rival 3d
Division as the "crack 3d Division” and spoke of the
4lst simply as "the 4lst Division." One day he called
two offending wire service correspondents to his tent
and asked:
"How is it that when you write about the 3d Divi-
sion you call it the ’crack 3d Division’ but always speak
of us only as the ‘4lst Division’ ? Can’t you think up
some nickname or adjective for us ? Or don’t we deserve
one? Call us the 'lousy 4lst Division,’ if you want, but
call us something."
General White’s unflagging efforts to better the liv-
ing conditions of his command, his ceaseless and suc-
cessful efforts to train as thoroughly as possible in those
days of peace, a combat division of National Guards-
men and civilian soldiers, and his own dominant and
completely just administration of his command en-
deared him personally to the legions under him. By
his own strong acceptance of responsibility he brought
upon himself an untimely death that left the men of
the 4 1st visibly shocked.
In a solemn funeral cortege Oregon troops bore the
body of their commanding general over crowded streets
to its final resting place in Riverview Cemetery. Port-
land had never witnessed such a procession.
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JEas&fc*
mm
sHi
Mffjor Gpn*ro) George Are d Whi**
Drigiral firm
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Digitized by
Headquarters 41st infantry Division
fort lewis, Washington
MD/h (AG)
November 25, 1941
GENERAL ORDERS
1 . It is with so now an d & feeling of mtonsoUble loss that «J«POnc;tmcnr is made of the death vf Major General
GEORGE A. WHITE, the _ Commanding . Genial. ; the 4 lit Dtvtoon, the • Comtfiandtsig General of the Oregon Na-
tional Guard and the Adjutant General’ of Oregon* »t Ciadmtms, Oregon, on November 23, 194L
2v Rom JuIy lHj l^iiO, uiLoug Branch, Illinois General White began nearly a halt century oi service to his
country by enlist oierti in die. Utah Ntooo&l Guard August i, .1895, Tie served ih the infantry to June 28, 1898, and
was discharged to enlist, the fallowing day in the Utah AitUiety for service m the Sp^fch- American Wat. He
remained io Federal service frOjn Junt 2$, 1898, to Dtf ember $VT8?& v 'Fallowing. that war Re again' enlisted as an
infantryman in the Utah. National Guard., serving as private, sergeaftt and first sergeant during the period July L5, 1899,
to May 3, 1903- EoHowiog hii te«Kivaito Oregon he irilisted in the Third Infantry, Oregcm National Guard, August
4, 1907, and was commissioned first lieutenant, infantry, August 5, 1907. He waspromottd to captain March 21 , 1911.
On February L 1915. he was appointed to the. post of Adjutant General of Oregon ami enteced upon a fuil time mili-
tary career Whidh was to end only with hi* death. When National Guard troops were called into Federal service for duty
on the Mexican, harder ml9lbhe obtained leave of absence from ius past of adjutant general to accept command of
Troop A, Qfegdn Gavaliy,* with the jraok -Rt* captjdm He remained in Federal service on toe Mtodcaq border from
June 27, 1916, to February 22, 1917, and resumed bk duties of Adjutant General on February 23, 1917. Under his
supervision the Third Infantry, Oregon National Guard* was mobiiited overnight in answer to ihe President* caL of
March 23, 1917, ami w^s die first National Guard regiment m the nation to be ready for duty. He also directed efforts
that resulted in tbe ; Tlurd' .Infantry' being toe first -National Guard regiment to be recruited to war sue^g^ arid in the
state of Oregon being toe first to compietc * war census of ail males of military age and first to complete oigamratioo
of sure draft machinery. Eisoaive September to, 1917, he entered .Federal retviu! as Major, A, G, 0 , wito assignment
as *s$i*Unt ;»di«mF^e^ of the newly usgiuatetd 41 st Division bur at the request of the Governor of Oregon was nor
requited to report until October 19TL Atf that he might supervise operation of the state draft machinery -Aim'
netting for dutf >uh ihe dut Dteritrio he mailed far France and served overseas from January 10, 1918, to June 18,
19F& receiving' promotion to lieutenant calomel November t>, 1918, and serving with both the 4 1st Division and
General JHcniquartrrs of the A- £. F flowing his mum to the United States he was mustered out of Federal service
J\dy rx^rited duties, of the Adjutant General of Oregon pn April 13, 19?0* He immediately beg^ too
reconstruction of the Oregon National Guard and was promoted to Colonel, A.. O, D v June Iri 1970. He completed
organization of toe $2<1 Infantry Brigade, composed of Oregon National Guard troops, and was appointed by toe
President and confirmed by the Senate as Brigadier General of toe Line, /u% 23, 1923. On January 3, 1930, he was
s^ppomted by the President and confirmed by the Senate as Major General of the Line, and was assigned to command
the 4 lit Division, comprised of. National Guard troops of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, .arid Wyoming
When the President declared a limited emergency and authorized increase of toe .Nahottal Guard .strength -fa Septeraber
1939, General White recruit td the Oregon National Guard to. its new’ strength within amtkjmd was notified that
Hie Oregon National Guard was the first tn, the nation to obtain its quota. When the Uxt Division was ordered ento
Federal, service, September 16, 1940, General White rapidly brought the Division to Regular Army' strength and estab-
lished it in camp within a week after the date cd induction. Under his te^dcrtoip /he iilst DivistQn became toe No. i
National Guard Division of the country and despite an dlpess. that began eatfiy.. in the summer he led hiis Itorips
successfully through maneuvers in California and the Fourth Army war games in wtstem Washington. Only when
those tasks were - completed did he allow himself to be {rounded- to te^vchi* belched Divijiou for a rest intended tfc
allow lum to recuperate from his ii loess.
3 ? Ao illustrious, military career was accompanied by an illustriw*.' General White was one of
the four officers credited wiih founding the American Legion in Fraiipe etoi besrime its first itaiiptud vic*Ncommaoder
and adjutant while the troops were still overseas. He founded -the American Legion magazine and was its first editor.
Go gle
ic Domain,. Google-cMgitizi
x tisk for which he was well fitted fay
short but brilliant .newspaper -career that found him associate editor of the
Oregonian when he accepted the post of Adjutant General of Oregon. Be was an author of many short stories and
novels based on military life a rut throe years ago tried to arouse the nation to its ever4ncreajing danger by writing
'Attack on America" ,
4 ; A graduate of the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1926 * and of the Army
War College, Washington, D. C, 1926, General White numbered among his decorations the Cross of the. Black Star ;
Awarded fay decree of the President of the French Republic, September 24, 1919, and the Cross of the Legion of Honor,
awarded by decree of the President of the French Republic, July 9 . 1934* The biter decoration -sw? awarded in gtatc*
fulness of the French Republic for the feeling of amnity he had helped to promote bemeen this count?? and France;
and in recognition of his efforts iri founding die Amcricsn Legion.
5- Aa officer and genthrmari who had few equals. General White Nevertheless prefixed to be regarded as t
soldier and lived op to riie highest standards of a soldier. His first thought -was »f the arten «? his
command and he never asked any man to carry put 1 task which he would hesitate fa perform himself. Ho demanded
discipline but the discipline he-deniarided was that of a father who wanted U> faring out the best .irt.'hw %ohi
6 General White possessed, as few, men did, an ever abiding love of bis fellow mem anil arcrinf bgging devo-
Hon to his country. In his Utter ycirr lie centered his Affection aod. his; Itfc-ift th* dj'srDivtston. ^nd he regarded his
final illness not 50 much as a personal affliction but more ar a barrier that separated .bTm from his men Wherever
the 41st Division may go there also will fae go in spirit H<$ memory is forever engraved on the minds pf the men he
commanded und his name rs an unwritten symbol on ev^ry regimental flag. Though dead he shall live in those of us
who remain. ’ ‘ ”* -V - v
By oumraand of Brigadier General RI LEA :
JOHN T. MURRAY:
Lt Col, G. S. G ,
Chief nf Staff
OFFICIAL:
GEORGE L. DUTTON,
Go gle
9 M m
The great review of The 4]st Division at forf Lewis on 20 September ?$4T was its fifsf appearance a* p divisiort |fl induction into federal service
A crowd at J 5.900 witnessed the impressive spectacle.
It was also tii November that the 218th Field Artil- day and escorted to Tort Lewis by Genera! Rhea, where
lery Regiment, ky> one battalion, left Fort Lewis for he assumed command of the Division with the words:
S an FranuscOv bound for the Philippines. Meanwhile V T have watched the progress uf thu> Division since
the rest of the Division teamed nip lit and day New u> induction into federal. fgr vice* Its record is opeof
methods- constantly were being added to the program. aibicveas&u and it is recognized, as one of file; topfl^bt ; -
and for the first time the artillery conducted a fire dhdsbns of the Army, I Feel highly hQOPfvd m
problem with' the use ot an airborne observer spotter- ing oxpan'r/ation./'
Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Meyer, brigade SdL borrowed General Fuller was destined to lead the Sunsetters
a Piper Cub from nearby McChord Field, and before through the depressmg days after Bead Harbor,
the ^setftbled Division brps, cfemonstraled • $ie idea, through months of arduous ttainihg in Australia, and
which Liter made the artillery so effective against the
Japs in the Pacific and the Germans and Italians in
the^ufogCah Th eater . It was dunng this
\jf 'Streamlining the square division
tossed huk and forth; but at rhU time the GJ was con-
cerned mainly with the approaching Christmas season
and .the furlough which it had heretofore brought
On 2 December Brigadier General (later Majoi Gem
era}} Horace H. FuHei, Commandant of the Command
and General Staff SchcK)i y at Fort LeavemvortN Kansas.,
was appointed General Whited successor, This West
Vo int r who formerly h&d Commanded the 3d
Div^nn ^foilfor-w was already in Tacoma, when the
finally into N ew G a inea— Salami* 0 a, HaB&wW 4ud :;
bloody* awfub Bjak. ' • *
World War II began for the ITnifod States in the
was being . skies over Pearl Harbor in the early morning hours of
Sunday, ? December 194 F White the Jap was carrying
out lus attack, men of the 4 1st were enjoying weekend
passes, in Seattle, . Portland, Olympia, Tacoma; sleeping
late, after Saturday mghfo relation, skiing on ML
Riimier's- snow -covered passes, or just sirring around a
late breakfast table listening \M Sunday morning s radio
programs and reading the funny papers, Some men
Svefe in church, singing the hid %mhs and the first
Chmtaxki carols of dbe se^sp^/pyaying for world peace,
announcement was made. He was met the following their very hopes, being blasted even while they- knelt in
prayer. This day had been set aside for special ob$em
*^^^4 varies by the Division;: It was- the occasion of the dedi-
cation of the chapel for the I62d Infantry, the first
formal chapel dedication in the Division • cantonment
In cities and towns throughout the northwest, as
v JRi soon as the news had been flashed over the radio and
hen the first block head;
across theater screens, ; and w
lines hit the streets, hundreds of soldiers Began fil ling
bus terminals; By 1300 that afternoon; the big Grey.'
hounds were rcdlmg toward Lewis with shouting, ex-
cited and- bewildered foidier>. By 1700. .the Division
-caLUOtm^pf ' 4 sw,wi|ng with mep. Office build-
mgs and barracks were blacked out; -I fit rally thousands
of solders still were pourmg thmugh the main gate,
leaving iYiencte .und parents in \ m?s outside- the now
off-ljimt* area; pu re fumor.. and official orders contested
Sotdi*r% of the 41 Division trf avi their cameras on the C [G, , General
''White, *hc '»« at U?l» wheel of hfx jeep.:
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(},\ Football inarm of >h<* 162d Iwftimty- (fte for fiction of Fart Lewis dat in$ ., o ict\mmoge
the Hunter fjggert mon«uv>f<.
(2) v»ftd «3J Stenus of the, )86*h fntdnffy onta during
THE Mt£BN COMMANDER
The 21 0th Field Artillery Regiment. was in convoy
from 800 to TOOO mules out at sea when the Japs
stocked. Pearl Harbor, It' was ordered hjjkk
Fninuseo at once, Upon amval at the port it was
staged at Golden Gate Park for a week* then moved
to the Presidio of Sari Fratxiscy where it set op a
defense far the San lAandsca Fort of: Embarkation. In
January this unit returned to Fort Lewis, a deliriously
happy bunch of men, coming home after two months
of uncertainty \ which iiiduded five days of. official
service. The same men were to return a nee
ug3 m three year* . later, just as happy, but wiser, tested
and not found wanting in battles that had spread them
ovet a thousand miles of coral islands and jungle
wastes. * , -
January and .February of .15&J brought farther x.ado
cal adinjntsrutive md. Ucrxaf changes; as. the .3 1st
parsed fiQ.nx a ..square to .a. Utangular dk isron, .To tfie
streamlining process the Ifilst Infantry Regiment was
removed and later beco m e part 4i,ih% ZHh. Division of
Guadalcanal h roe. Tear. l62d # T63dL. W 18Gh l/Tarc
try Regiments remained with the Division. Out of the
headquarters cTamp^nies of th< : 'shi-md 8 2d Infantry.
Brigades, the 4 1 st Cavalry’ Reconnatssanec T roqp was
formed.
Reorganization of the field artillery wm a little more
complicated since the new table of organ Nation called
for four battalions mstead of the original three regi-
ments. The 66th Field At hi l cry Brigade was disbanded
and out of it was formed- the 4 1st Division Artillery
t<?«r old i^pp pie' plate Wf/nefs or* posto 6 out ■ ro troops during- summer
Hcjflquartm. Brigadier General Marshall G, Randol,
who bad commanded the 66th Brigade became artil-
lery commander but was soon retired and Brigadier
General Ralph Coane assumed command, The new
artillety setup included three light ' battalions, arid one
medium battalion armed with thirty 105mm how-
itzers and twelve 155mm howtotst The 2 1 Sth Regi-
ment was split into two battalions, one retaining the
dc^gtorioo while the other became the 90?d
Battalion, which later became part of another Army
uniL The ll6th Regiment also became two hatfca lions,
otie keeping the original number while the second, be
came the 167th Battalion, The |48fh Regiment .became
the 205th Battalion* which ren^ained wdrh the Tl ;sf Divi-
sion, and the 1.48th Battalion, which became
# part of J Corps artillery in the $outh\vesr Pacific
Theater.
From excess personnel uf the field artillery and one
company of the U6tb Engineers* the 64 i st Tank De
stroyer ‘Battalion was formed. Other personnel became
the 4 Ur Miimuv Police Platoon, designated a .part of
Division H £4 d-q u a rt £ t s Compa by, What had been
known as the 3 ? 6th Engineer Regiment now became
the H 6th- Engineer Battalion and the 1 i 6th Medical
•Regiment* and ) 16th Quartermaster Regiment also be-
came battalions, the Utter being made, a company after
the Division arrived overseas, The Signal and Ordnance
Companies remained unchanged,
Following the * 'principal
elements of the list Infantry Division were:
Ariilfttfxmwn tsf ihoffsi C?ivUiatt pond QtJisfdt, p.gon'itjnf o<? "4 matting toe my
force’- ahng W ashmgtda's scenic Olympia Peninsula during 1941
maneuvers. ‘ ' 7 .7 • - ... /“ -C, •- • ' .* ’•
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Slip
Public Domain, Google-digitized ;/- ^•p;//w.wvy,bat;bitru5t^^cc:es^_use#pd-gpCTg|e^
lllil
ff ) Color guard of the. 218th Field ^ArtSIhty (21 Color guard of the 162 d tnlantry. (3) On? of i ho* losf photo* of the Drv iii on ' Cotninandmt, Mo C}»n.
George 'ft. \VhJfe.
:t
3igiti2
S 1 '
Original from
OF MICHIGAN
Public Domain, Google-digitized /. http://www : .hath[itrust.'org/a<.c^s§;,tis^pd;0 0 ^9^ e
81 /ovoc oretf of fh* 4fst Oivittoii at Hynfpr Liggttt in i94lt.
••-list Infant*? PivKi^n Headquarters inJIipn vv'JbiLh were to send the 4Vst Dfthi(>n three; thou-
* l62d Infant r? Regiment -sand (Tuie$ 3 <n>& the Pacific within a month -ail'd S/half
!6Jd Inf ad tty Rumor had jc d$B£ Au^traiia was to be the . new W$&;-
lg<$th: Jnfonfcrjf Rfgitnent '.During these: busy days- fort Lewis ’.saNy m^ny strange
4 I st Division Artillery Headquarters Sights, -Each week-end -brought hundreds of cars, filled
146th Field A.fhilcry Brutal ion with parents, relatives* wives and sweethearts, into the
467th : Field Artillery Battalion area to repeat the good-byes which had been said the
205th field Artillery Battalion previous' week-end. Living was now on j day-to-day
2 r8tb {held Artillery Battalion basis. Timing was secondary to the re-equipment pro-
641 st Tank Destroyer Battalion ..Because the t e were stdalt enforced pass regula-
41 st Reconnaissance Troop Lons: — six hours at first staUater a few 24 hour passes
lififh Engmecr Battalion —the p c?st theater^ post exchanges and service clubs;
1 1 6th Medical BaBalkvn W.ete jammed., wit h ,‘h^|f^oxv ing tinu^ds each night of
the. week,' , Morula W high and expectations were far.
41 st Signal Company ahead' of the Vasihats* Khediil.es. Nobody., despite the
741st Ccimpatiy •. . dfsc^wfaga.Dg: : ^«d afc^'%kj$£. news f f#rn bpih' The' -Pa: -,
• .• • ahead would-
Secret orders already were on their way from Wash- stretch through three and a. half years.
Chapter 3: Overseas to Australia
PECULATION xm high as tp where the Division
$U£lt a# extent that climbing a few stairs d&Tbow was
was going. It? early February 1942, the 41st was almost more than the food was worth T he ten days'
relieved of ; defense duty , by the 3d Division, sailing along the Equator was tin? worst
pulled bade to Fore lewis and prepared for movement Some ox the troops drew assignments us antiaircraft*
overseas,' When the alert came there was a burned and gun crews and .lookouts. Two dogs, which were not on
sorrowful exodus of wives who had been living in the any passenger list became a part of ship life .and were
area, .some of them for almost .as long as their husbands readily adopted as mascots.
bad been '.in federal service. Now in these last days After the ships left the Canal there was no land for
they thronged into the Fort Lewis cantonment at every several *i%efc$; nothing hut tfe incredibly blue water
opportunity to be with their me?? for as many as and beat. One canteen of ware? a Jay was allowed and
possible of the remaming few precious hours. this proved to be & small quantity for the Equator'S
Late; that month The l62d infantry, fhe 6 list. Tank dimare. Other ships- in the convoy wete- even worse
D gStrwer . PattTllgn am? the 4 1st KeccMinaiss^nce Troop off- for water, although some of the precious fluid, had
moved ACgb§5eC0Unt§J^ % frMr To fort D<M.New Jet- been taken ‘ on at Panama. SMt, water was used for
sey. On 1 March the men began boarding the SS SjMx bathing and there was fresh water a half hour a day,
Ymla and Uruguay. The convoy left Brooklyn Navy or pet leap*, every other day« foi shaving
Yard on 3 March. Tins group w,o t part of the legend* On 23 Match the convoy stopped at Bora Bora in
ary forty days and Tarty nights’ *' convoy, this- Being the Society Islands. The Men encountered Then first
the amount of time reqiiired for the dip. This was the piratical natives* who immediately surrounded the ships
beginning of troopship routine (or die 4 1 sir. Here. v. Os to sell coconuts and other native merchandise.. Grass
the mediunysize ship, crammed with many inore men skirts were sold- for rhe fabulous price ?>f six dollars
than it was built for and taking the ' longest • route, to and it was hirer .said these were manufactured rn the
its destination Here; too,, was the endless. standing in United States. The natives seemed to know- only two
than eight houtrg day m order to get prices— "ope dollabT gnd.TTi^ dollafaT It was here
that the . men learned that ^^ru$in cigarettes. were
good bakga^Aihg - and d tttacti ve ;a$ legal tender.
During tire begof tatforis tbe mtrVes suddenly streaked
There was pleniy of madly for shore— -3 conning tower was moving through
company and it was a new experience for most of the the channel Soon, six mosjKovered American 5id>
men. The clunaic was ideal. Finally; howev^ the red marines luu led into sight. These were “hot'* wjicrs.
roofs of Panama loomed m night and marked the The jap Feet was around and many times troops on
beginning of the intense heat which was ro become a the island held their breath as & part of the enemy
part of the men's lives for many months to. come. The navy steamed by the hidden entrance to. this; secret base
uiwary ’became seared and blistered and many experb which was isolated from help,
e^ced the feeling of having their energy drained to Swimming was permitted hut the men .found the
line for
through
and the
m$h fay.
The first fow days were fine
^ dt#r
the chmv.Une. There we?6 drills' and schools
fascifaafiofl of wMcfaing the inUblue wafer
Trucks of ihe 0!sf brigade roll across o bard on San Antonio Rivef during the maneuvers af 19 41
An , Army trpvels ort iff Jtomach, and jUcfgraff from the four scenes above,, Yh# troops of the 4] si bivhfon travelled Jar. top left tbtiws the Much-hated
but always necessary 4, jp*4‘* detail while lower UH shows the. men pasting though the chow line Top and bottom right are scenes of chow being
prepared while eh route to the maneuvett it* Catitotnfp,
o troops were all owed the Soil '•Down ^n#r;T Jt 'was a :4irt-y men,-,
g back coral and other starved for the sight of new faces and excited at the
igly, slowdiealutg cuts sights of a new land. thar stepped ashore that day The
forty-forty " trip- was ended and one man summed up
national Dateline, led the. opinion of the group when he quipped; "I used
31 March ami shortly to think this guy Magellan was a great man, No\v 1
ling for Brisbane, Ao^ tblhk he was a damned fool h
lifyfiptay, which had As they came down the gangplank the men whistled
d Tor Auckland, Nov like a covey of canaries; they were greeted with rt Ht.
)d Friday, Again the ViinkT Attempting to m4mic the strange accent, one
ash (axe and had to bfc solder should; "I 4ye 7 l see a lyedyT
nn-mg bottles of beer. While the convoy carry mg. the T62d. infantry was
ring Fort Dh.. sweeping down the Canal %:m the load infantry,
ing day. going. to- Mel- 1 A 7th field Artillery Battalion, Division Headquarters
h and stonviy Tasman with Genera 1 fuller and Genera CRiiea' Division Head* •
Ttggerthe feeling thag 4 l$t Company, it 6th fngi-
avv soon begajvcjmog; neers, H6th Medical and l i 6tli Quartermaster Harr a 1
jrc men w^it through ions gathered at the San Francisco Port of Fmbarkanon
. durmg the early .monunghoUas of 1 9 March By 1 XK?
and the following day hour$ r hey were losing sight of rhe Golden Gfe fridge.
St Division set foot on Some ten thousand troops were aboard the British
Public Domain, jGoog-le-digitizec
At top soldiers of the 163d Infantry assemble under a spreading oak tree while awaiting orders to move up during the Fourth Army maneuvers. Center
photo shows 162d Infantry troops moving forward over dusty roods and through streams. At bottom the 161st Infantry crosses a bridge over the
San Antonio River on their way into the wild back country of Hunter Liggett.
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
OVERSEAS TQ AUSTRALIA 25
were he mg made to defend' tfe cbftt&tmt from Brisbane •* chaplain «,r ♦h * wa Maatry-tiiip* wu$i*mak*ti #r*par9\ ««
to the south. The Australians, fearful that the japs '°'* menf pfagr ^ m ;
would not be stepped, were burymg their silver and In April the ren. binder of the Division, induvlmg the /
many of r.hem had moved -Out .of Queensland- The ]8iVh Infantry, ilfft h and, 2 05th Field Ami lery
Japs had atr superiority and had been bombing Port Battalions yi d Division ’At til lay.- Headqua rters with
Moresby mi New Guinea and Darwin in northern Aus- Geaeri-Coanfi entuinvd at fort Lewis for San. Ft an -
crate just about 3$ they pleased, Some ot the people cisco.. The trip to Fusco was pretty wonder tui since the
wept as the men; poured ashore, fcu f these Amerkan tiai.ns were composeii of the best Pullmans available,
fighting men were a welcome Sigh*. What Australian the. food was plentiful and good, and the suftons of
combat tmpps the-ic were had been, ma idling back and the small railroad towns usually were crowded with
forth on th^ .African desert with the British Army for people whose sons, fathers, brothers and friends -were
two long years . Now th& japs were poised, ready to on those trains: To many on the trains the counuy was
Strike. It was not an enviable pordtioii for this land, new, but to many more the trip was old and familiar,
which h about as large as the United- States in area but the names of ..the peaceful little towns reading like a
has only a population between seven and eight million, summer vacation guide book.
Australia was a strange continent. It w as apparent In the early morning hours of 22 April the men
indite- way the houses were built, the look of the peupl-e arrived m San Fraruteete. Weighted down by the old
and the very srtiefli of the place. The tnrgrt soon learned blue barracks bags, they detrained, mardied iota g buzz-
that the Austf^Uan^ fetl thc ^i/-e of a place by the nam- tng BobfvhHed pier, £KdrMt&ed the oldTirng porkpte
ber of hotels It has- Each hotel houses a: pub and ffe helmets for the newer madds, .fifed .up' the gangplanks-:
number of pubs seem; proportional to the number of and into rhv cavernous depths of such floating; hotels,
people. as the Argt&ttxa and M#tsonu. The convoy* which had
The troops entrained and moved co Seymour, sixty- in its group the first Liberty ships,
.five. inland from Melbourne. This camp had been gathered in the bay beneath the Golden Gate. A large
used by the Australians during Woe Id War 1 and there pari of the 3 2d Infantry Division Vas also m this
~ group. Three -days after loading, the hut dements of
the 4 1st sailed under an tm orn pa table California
hich made the bay city took white as carved
The ships passed beneath the majestic and
graceful bridge* through the channel tint led to the
strange, dark sea and thousands of enemy - dom i na ted
mite. , :
• Mm of to that last glimpse
of the Golden Gate Bridge, No other bridge in the
world ever spanned so many lonely, eager, baffled,
bravr'depArft^ men. No other bridge m earth, was
to b.ecomt sucjr a A’rrvboJ of rfcttirn . No other bridge
sterpany - homecoming,. tearfully
w;ercva tev Aussie units in the areuwhen the Division
arrived, •. . ■ ; \
The first meal was a shock. The Armies had pro- sunset w
pared it Th£y had two oil drums made into cookers, tnarjblC
One held mutton stew while the other tedthe Aus-
fr&trao version of coffee. Shortly thereafter American
mcsteergeahts, using AmericarT raeLKods, wvotto work/
Meg gulped the second day as they watched two dirty'
militiamen haul in a load of bread in a fiabbed truck,
much like we haul cordwood. As scion as the bread
\yas unloaded, garbage was put on the trucks. After
two days- of this procedure some changes were made
and the Aussies contended that the Vanlcs were too would arch '4 hove
fussy, happy men. No other bridge would ever mean so much
M*i* ef thi 3tf< t624 fnfcthrry, prepare f<j leave t|S» r.fagVng o^c of Pori B>> f«?Cav*rn*ai; art l MafoH 1942 iErickson pho*o).
to men i of Oregon. 3^at^^ r Penn5ylvania md trees, 4 s the Assies' called them. It mned almost con-
Massachusetts fo the rain forests of. Buna. Salamaua, stantly and keeping dry became a inajbr problem to alt.
Hoilantha, and Fal^wapo the memory of the.ei)d.of ftZjrJkg Dmspn yt&S tus»)y engaged
this bridge shone before eyes that were dead with great m Uifalog and rofmmnng to build the odd, muddy
wearmesN upon/- hearts that remembered it as brighter earned Training was hard. •Thirty -mite -u day marches
rays of the tropical &tn, and braver, infinitely were made and these were carried out for three con
braver than the glories of 'Rome. There probably were sccuhve days. Tvtrything in the book Was practiced
men of the 4 hr who died with that hazy image mixed as the men slogged through muddy Jays and nights,
up in their last mortal dreams. The artillery began firing at Pueapunial, but in the
The last -of the 4 tst’af rived at Melbourne on H May, him part of May began moving to Rockhampton,
debarked the following day and went to Seymour to Queensland, where d trained through the next four,
jom fih£ reminder erf the unit. To the men of the 41 $t months,
had fallen the honor of putting (he first complete fight- Newspapers of Melbourne and Sydney daily fob
tog unit of United States- troops into Australia. This- lowed the unrelenting enemy advance down, the coast
was to be the beginning of a whole new chapter in the- of New Guinea, and the battle of the Coral Sea was
life of the Division, a life to be told through the so the men oi the. 41st the only bright spot u\ the
medium of a new language, new names, new expres- darkening Uidug of the military cloud,
sieves, new interpretations'. Australia was the gateway Melbourne became a week-end llavert and shopping
to the islands that irrevocably must lead; th Thlcyo arid Jay -ground fqr the Yanks, Jf it Mufc-Uw
complete victory, town.. Trains jammed with American soldiers arrived
The entire Division fmw. Waiir the vicinity of Sey- late Saturday night and everything was closed- bn Sun
mom The surrounding country became the site of day. There were no movies, and even a suitable caring
hard, extremely thorough training. The . counttyskte establishment was hard to find However. the people
was bare Although the hills looked green, when one were fnemity and any man wishing to do so could
set foot on them he, found patches of grass as big as- week-end with. an' Australian -family. '
a hand with coarse gravel dirt between them. V Thau- ~ : %orch wvlnskey sold for eighteen shillings; vTicfi wT;
sands of grazing sheep kept the ftftfe tlmt way Fexv abbut three dollars in American money. The beer Was
trees were evident and these were eucalyptus, or gum deceptive. Although some ’brands were as good as
Camp oi Company l, f62d Infantry, at Seymour, Aortrcjio,
anything produced in the .States* the stuff was quite single track between Rockhampton and Brisbane The
potent as many men darned in & short time. The Yank Trip was; not invigorating but it ct*rtamly was erdight-
soldiers were popular With the AdstjftliM.. ' Ming. From '-KM* Sptffh Wales to Queensliiod vva$
the high regard shown wOmep asrrmished dfie . a jump of a t}ipUs$nd miles and the^chahge fitamfbtj
tr&lian women, in. this land the women let the tnsn over chill of Melbourne to the heat of RockKarnp-
have the spothght,. The man '& the importun* person ton was an acchmatkal problem, Olive drabs were
tn any couple One .Australian gif* expiauied the corn.' shed for the fost time and the men blossomed forth
pamon when she Staid: ‘ ut the khaki that v. as to be the official uniform from
MAn AmMcifi. it beds takmg'a gifl oxff^ will- prob- QueenslMd to the Golden Gate, via die Southwest
ably send flowers first He wih take the girl to. a good Pacific,
dinner, He will ask bet where she wants to go and At JU^khasaptfifn: the battle trainmg became realistic
what she wants to drink, if -anything. An Aussie will
come up to yqiu house fof the ecening and brrng
:i bottle of beer, 'which be probably will, dank him-
• it was generally- CfM^eded thai Master Sergeant
Chester E Wallace of 'Divi^on ArtiUery Headquarters ;|Cf.V '/E
was the first mm to carry a swagger stick, which y
fhe latest vogue Saturday nights found the men re- * v^dd
taxing; on Sundays the high and idvv diuithes were • •
filled to capacity. Col 1ms Street was famous for its
hundreds pf milk bars. On Utile CpUitis one found
burlesque and itinerant offerings oi stock Mikados
ami ’Pinafn resT The men Smoked Craven- As and /|fdB ^
drank hock, went' boating- on the St Kilda. niglu-
clubbed at -a dozen: lavish places, and look lommiHuc-r. * * s# * ‘ < ' : V v ' ! ;* ;
if?'. St,- ’One Do/tm Roses" voo lopping me j*. • -—5^ -.
Ha Parade back borne and this catchy tune was fast JH HP j£vf nL }
becoming the favonre w wb the men • ncr:-a::i.s T< iin. %? :
men:- of rhe 4 1st, in those first two .month's.- A usual u IS' fgSji *^tCtol‘
was- Melbourne, Melbourne was heaven, and heaven ^c'~T *> * X ..f^
whs theirs, for the taking. i .*£ ,
But aiTak>jf: this -rcaiTH^ ■';&>. ’ ; Ap -*;i&nd.' .Oja' *1^ E>-i2. ami pHj fgg f | | y-;
the Division .dpsed
in op; Rpckhamptpn, where it
fouhd; d .-send -tropica) climate and better training coun-
try; The arduous rad trip from Seymour to Rock-
hampton meant unloading. and. reloading at every State
line as track gauges Changed For several ddys the
Division monopolized Australian trains over two thou-
sand miles. The Auyhes themselves tell jokes about
their trains, but Uke the weather, nobody seems to do
anything about it Onetime the Queensland Railways
lost an entire string of cars somewhere on the dOO-mile
The 116th Engineers comtrucl a bridge
gH|i£
27
f reaps i6f the 3d Battalion, *62d infantry, use an Austral »an train to move from Melbourne to Rockhampton
as the men readied themselves for jungle and am- second lieutenants- learned the hard way of conducting
phihious yarfare. Queensland was hot and the -troops fire. The tables of equipment, ami organization within,
spent week-ends rushing for buses to the beach at the artillery now allied for & complete air liaison sec-
Yeppooa and Rockhampton The 1 63d, tSbfh, and m>m which allocated two L-A Piper Cubs to Division
I62d Infantry Regiments, respectively, went down to Artillery ffeadcpiartas and two each to the four bat
ToorbuJ (Terrible) Point on the coast north of Bm~ taKom, a total of ten. Pilots were to he staff sergeants
bane, a battalion at a time foi amphibious: training while officers were to supervise and handle administta-
trader the Australian Atmy Each battalion trained on tioa. Later the enlisted pilots, were authorized com
the Fitzroy River prior to tmhftig .at Tootbul PomL mission.?.
Ail except the 3d Batf&l&o of the l <>2 J infantry spent Other innovations were introduced into the artillery
a week in rest camp near Yeppon following the am- during these months uf training; The 167th Art tiler}'
phihious training. -Meanwhile some of the junior ofg* 'Battalion, left Rockhampton for TownsVilfc Australia,
cers were sent to Australia n *t onducted tactical schools, m January 1.943, where it became a horse drawn, pack
Everything pom ted to battle in New Guinea and the .outfit. The 2lHth Battalion put aside its f.u a
men were ready. time, and experimented, with 73s which were carried
The artillery conducted its' training on the Coberra in jeeps and could be. broken dawn into the integral
range, which echoed d^i I y to the thunder of 103s as parts for easy transport. Captain (then Burst- Lieu*
cursing gunners manned their weapons and sweating tenant) Donald E Mac Arthur of the H6th Bawd ton,. ]
already was beginning to think about a" method U
firing on targets using a system which was to become
known a* Radial iiiie Plotting.
Lieutenant (General Robert L, Lichclberget' apd. his;
August iU 54 and from this command the 41 st. inhgrifecf
•: nv 9.. necessary but galling rituals: hist, motor stahlfsr
Commands rs ifimughout the >Q ivisjpn had; made a
religion ot; motor stables and first sergeant^ were tear*
iug out t.heif hmjtier the coiomandmcnts and golden
itiles of checkmg hams and ftghk^CH^L this- chuk
that, check, check, check!
/P^Sup^ly. sergeants b$gm issu.rug the ilEBted zoot
Taking h *aty en the T»(ypo <k> beach, in an* of ifie Jew niame fito of
relaxation grp hied who were preparing to f&anck the first ofafr-
five against the Jap #.
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
Here men of the 162d Infantry storm a beachhead dorm 9 o practice assault at a combined IromitfS school Toorbul Point
sml, the c^.ouJflaged jungle pack, machetes, . jiqptuig' to Mdw off pent-up steam. Rockhampton and
knives, ponchos which absorbed the ram ins read dC Yeppi^un were the two ;towM Svhtch .bore the brunt <*t
shedding -it,' ‘•■.fishing tackle, dubbin, hamoHxfo and the ‘"attack" on week-ends and occasional three-day
herringbone bvjUs. Aubrine was to u:*»:nc % little na^ves, and they always were hi fed to capacity. Long
hirer, remembered wd 1 be such the Bluebird Club,
The best, noncoms were being trained to replace offi- the Golden Gate Glfe finrlYC6urt Theatre, the Red
cm. in the eveut of battle casualties. Some Gross Club, the Catholic Club, the Bolamutl Gardens
died off to ofheer candidate schools and seen u<y more, and the ancient bridge that was like some carousel
A taw ,rejair««d llte Division but. many . jOiiied ride in an amuse-ment park except tlvit the speed lufut
Cavalry Div u&aiw the.; 32d,Dmsi.ox^ or. of*eoS ti&jmxty across its arched crumbling. bed %vas eight miles an
iodependef^ werej^'cmtilig: intp-AuittahV hour. And who will ever forget YeppOo, the btue-
at that time. Some of. the men were receiving coiiv .surfed vacation spot with i.rs golden sandy beaches and
missions by,. diiXCt appointment, milk bars that ran out of everything except sarsparilia
When the men were mt working they were turned • by l5Cto-h0Uh : ;eac!h Satpyday- afternopti.
Vj:H'
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Chapter 4: Baptism of Fire
I N 'THEIR \ c )Al offensive- the japs shifted their ready but due to the fact that the 3 2d was in a poor
assault to the southeast and planned a two-pronged' rion where it a>u Id be moved more; easily, it got the
aftiiek, one for the control of southeastern New initial call, and the Scst elements p roc ceded to Pori
Guinea . and a second to thrust through the Solomon Moresby, Allied strategy now .was shifting from de-
Islands and dxU the American supply line to Australia, feme to counterattack The Japs were being pursued
Neither attack reached k% objective. The Battle of the by the A ussies toward Kokoda- While the Australians
Coral Sea ‘(4-B MayA9T2.) dealt the Japs. a. dative were doing this the 32d . Division ...made a ‘Aide en-
.mg and 'fiVe'mOnths latex the jap advance toward out velopiivepf to the east and hit the enemy's- left flank
supply lines was halted in the Solomons, in the vicinity of Buna. This move would cut off trie
Their failure by sea did nor discourage the laps’ iti rear of the main Jap force facing the Austral tans
e/Jori to capture Port Moresby, which would afford Plans called for hying this force to the seacoast south-
them an. invasion. .base .only 340 miles from the Cape east of Buna.
York Peninsula in Australia. In July they landed at The enemy ha.$l^oiiiU:ruct«d. irnprtfgftable
Buna, Gona and Sananarida on the northeast coa$t of defensive lines in the swampy jungle. One lay across
Papua and pushed ..southward across the Papo;m Pemry the Soputa-Sanananda toad while the other was in
sula. By early August ike japs had eleven thousand front of Buna itself. The fighting took place in a
men fighting their way across the deep gorges and narrow strip on the northeastern coast of Papua ex^-
razor-back ridges of the Owen Stanley Mountains and tending an both sides of Buna Mission, the prewar
descending to within ttyrftjptwo miles of the pdrt seat of government for the area. It was bounded on
Here the Australians stemmed the Jap onslaught and the west by one of many outlets of the Giro a River
by >4 September the advance w as held at the Imitfl and on the east by the coast a half mile south of Cape
Range, south of loribaiwa. Endaiadere, The battleground \Vas, about three and a
Bombing of the Jap supply line and a flank attack half miles long and. three quarters of a mile deep. The
by the Aossks forced the enemy to make a hasty with- whole area was a plain patterned with
drawal .up the oad. A jap attempt to land troops at steaming jungle, impassable swamp, coconut planta-i
Mi for -Bay fed been.repi..i.ked.-, tiom, - open fei'ds. : a.adv of course* ^hpulder-high Kitf'uri
just as the tide of invasion began to ebb, Genera) g mss A Typical of the rivets is the Girua which is forty
Douglas Mac Arthur, Commander dmChief of the to sixty feet wide until it disappears in the swamps
Southwest Pacific Area, committed his first American southwest of Buna Village, and eventually finds the
troppy Both the 4 1st Division and 32d Division were ocean through several mouths. The principal swamp
A member of the Udfh Engineers surveys with pride fhe all-weather Army road constructed by hi* unit or * the Ora Ray-Dohoduro road at Qro Ray.
THE JUNGLEERS
The .right' fork leads southeast to the Mission white
the left fork crosses Entrance Creek; arid proceeds to
Buna Village. , Th& other [dins the lei! fifrrk at the
Angu Trail
These trails' averaged twelve feet to w(dfh but were
50 -tow lyh}& heavy mn put under
wafer . Engineers worked CoimartUy to put down cor
domy n\ order io make tmues pazikhlt* fm ^11 supply
and evaakil’ion was toed c/n theie trails.
Along with rcmtti difficulties went p*mb|ems in*
herein m. thf.hfafriMly lipf und muggy donate. A rise
iVi; temperature of only one or two degrees increased
physical di^tAmfoft imneadauidy, And tA^dcf further
cornplicatioiu the campaign was conducted in the
months when precipitation, temperature and humidity
Wttt£ the highest.
Malaria and dengue lever v^ete constant threats to
the men, who also suffered from depression, and weari-
ness caused by the dimatecand ifiaclequate itxM. A
large percentage of all Units became hospitalised from
fevers.. For every two men who were battle casualties,
hve were out of action because of fever.
The Jap force at Buna numbered about twenty-two
hitodrcd troops; of these eighteen hundred were come
hat ftoops* Air support for mis campaign was fur
msked by the Fifth Air Forth The air transport c*f
troops* as conducted by the 374ih Troop*Carrier Group-
a major feat at this stage of the war.
After many week* of rough fighting during which
attack after attack hud been repulsed, men of the 32d
Division were tired and dispirited. The Jap line had
nM even tettn dented. Finally, around 4 December*
the. enemy Lines were broken enough so that a wedge
could be dme# ro ; the sea near Buna Village, but here
■ &tr a.ftac| %5i& hogged down'.'; : ..
A /eep Kcmyoy make z on* al >ip<daU? trip* fifth mail and to pp/fe* id
Affwiittn tfiaopj i»* New Guinea
in the Buna a lies between Enhance Creek and
Sunemi ‘.Creek and reaches inland to the vicinity oi
Sirnemi and Ango, It was ’absolutely impenetrable, a*
fact of vital importance in the fighting;
Most of the drier land h covered with a thick
growth of Kmat grass of plantations qf coconut palms.
This coarse grass uHiaUy gxotv^ to it height of mote
than sex feet but its height varies greatly. ’
In the open ground southeast of Buna Mission was
the landing field y most ithpottaut A 1 Heel objective., h
was 10*5 air miles from Port Moresby and would be a
souixe of support for further advance along che north
coast, of New Guinea.
The approach to Buna was difficult by land or sea-
It had nd harbor; Cpraf recds . abound . near; the shore
and are scattered over the sea as' much as twenty -five
miles from land. Native otouesf had to be used for
carrying cargo. On the Und> Buna is diro$j( by- -revamp*
arid creeks arid can be apptoach&l four,
narrow corridors,, each with its trail ,
The coastal trail runs from Cape Sudesr past Hdfika
then north to Sixnemi' Crsdk;' southeast, to the airstop
Here if meets a second trail which, comes from Dobo-
dura and Simemi Village and skm; the east side of the
num ^amp sc^uth of Bun a. Alter the junction, rbc
frailT’fo'ssesThe creek m a penn;utent bridge and com
tmnes >dong the northern edge of the airfield to rhe
Mission Between the bridge and the Mission it A a
passable motor toad. The third trail comes from
Dohoduoi on the west side of the aUtin sw#mp, jois$
a tod from, So pula at An go Comer, run! then mm
to a fork about twelve hundred yards from the coast
mm
Natives co rt rtf Oct . 0 . cutyen on a
new oM-v»*mtK«r rod d iomewberm
New Guinea.
Public
of ffif 7(53^ Mortlff #baard o Iraniporl plan* in N» w £Oo*<$,
With this .stalemate -if Was ;ded<fe*Hp •ohffi- ways stronger than those at Buna. They <o;nsttruted a
rmr more American troops to the %ht in New Guinea, deep beachhead, roughly triangular in shape, protect
The 163d Infiuttry ' Si^iment. with <{etaehnujribv--.f roro. harbor. The apex of tires triahgle was
the 4 1st Signal Company. 4 Ut Quarlerm^er Com thrive . ^itd a half miles inland on. the Soputa-Sanananda-
pane. 11 6th Engineer Battalion and 641st Tank De^ roaT the one good line of advance, white its base was
st royer Baitate&v getting as Combat Team 463 under op strongpomts covering the ctiasta) trail
the command of Jens A. Doe, then a iglotid* was between Cape Kiltertoi to the west and Tarakena to
alerted m .Australia .on 14 December. The cOiw.w the east . Goria was a Hank position, tor the northwest
carrying this combat team was nr Christ* of the rrl^in stronghold and could ; be reached from
mas Day (942. Following a day marked by’ special Sopufca by a trail west of the road,
religious services, dt^fribupbp ut Htd Gross gift, boxes Three groups of mutually supporting petitions
and the serving "of :fresh-bake[d bread for the first tube, coifed points where trails toward Cape TCillerron
it .proceeded f& Port Moresby, arriving there on 27 branched Off the main .Soputa-Siinanunda road-..- l:ach
Decemher. :• 'defenstej^ of. a singly .wig. of hiifiikerc
While the right wing af fbe Allied force in •; Papua connected by fire and communication • trenches,/ cori-
carrying out the Buna operation* the le’f I wing was sri kiting a perimeter. Many of these perimeters were
attacking jap positions defending Saivafiviridu, i few flanked by swamps and all were welt conceited m»
mdcs west of Giftu River. After the tall of Buna, dense jungle. Within this fortified area, ware some
elements of tire 3 2d Division moved up the coast to three thousand survivors of the tmsucvcssfte Japanese
the Sanananda front while the Australian 18th Brigade attack on Pori Moresby, together with reinforcements
and the 163d Infantry came by Way of Anger Corner, w hich had arrived by sea, Among these trhripS: were
Jap defenses west of the Girua River were m mans three battalions, of the Japanese Ust Infantry. One
SANANANDA FRONT
22 NOVEMBER 1942 9 JANUARY 1943,
CAPE KlUERTON
wye POINT
9 DEC.
SANANANDA point
^jiRUWA
.TARAKENA
N \SWOfiJ
^vyjUAGf
JvSbuna %
H £fe:
V road
| v -0 :-.'i
T
ENEMY POSITION
22 NOV.
9 JAN.
^i-ST p.iy.
ANGO CORNER
soputa
TO DOBODURA
ANGQ
TO POPONOETTA
ALLIED DEFENSE LINE
ALLIED APPROACH LINE
PEEP TRAIL
MILES
ENEMY DEFENSE LINE
FRAIL
Digitized b-.
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\
Map
3
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Army i tnyinttrf .ati -xUfyip at Qpbadufti
battalion was at Gona, arid the second and third bate .organised 'for fail- a round dt
Ta linns were near the junction of the Killcrton Trail ximt&er Market. ..Ijmmediat
and Scf^ufa-Sanarjanda toad. To&f ehgmy gstcehgriv ^ secohd J^j> defensive posit u
Sanananda was between four and five thousand. second Allied roadblock, eajj
Australian units had conducted tt n£ "operation but tenant Harold R. Fisk, the
were: too exhausted and too few - to crack the enemy's Infantry t»> fail in battle. Le
strong defensive position, The Au&ucs had pushed the north was. a third, group a
Japs back across the Owen Stanley Mountains; hot then supply 'lines to die roadblock
•the attack slowed down until after the fail of 'Buna, east of the road and (best
By this tifiie chough Aihencati troops had been' moved ' constatih, pfttroh At seven
Cm to press fhe uttack wnb intensity until, positions were tmintain«4.C
the final jap j^ts were subdued on 2£ January. 1 94$, The Muskel perimeter wa
Gona fcji (in 9 '.Decemfee.r and the' fight waGbemg coveted ground, some fc>u
pressed for Sarianandi and Buna, The t<*Jd infantry ehhefsidV Foxholes were
of the 4 1st Division began ar riving i\ Bopayidetta and and were arranged m square
tk>btidu'r^;by a$r from Port Mnyfeshy^^ yO December;- tions were abtihi fifteen yar
ju sr three days after its arrival in New Guinea. This . sections to eabh p^dmefft; t
outfit became the first full American regiment to be rides and automatic weapon:
flown into bank in the Pacific Theater. The 163 d tained higher headquarters,
felieved the Australian ;S9th Infantry' Battalion. in its mortars, dumps
portions* bemg, completed between Z and these rings Were small snf
4 January. In this one-day march to the forward lower headquarters. Slit tier
bivouac area the troops experienced for the first rime the area was often densely
the discomfort of marching through the jungle while troops were m transit to (
laden down with full equipment. during this time the Japs t
Operations at Buna were drawing to a close, per- artillery and the Allies had
muting a shift of more Allied strength. The 127th When the K>3d took oi
Infant ry. operating. m the Weafoa flank .of the - Bun* from the Australians they k
f ront, had .fest^H«h^J ( m otifpo^f, iti Village hiesome. The Aussjes, sfcrao
and was & rmly- by & January, free snipers but the America
Meanwhile, Austi^hsm ekmetftg were moving izOpi counteract enemy snipers ;
Buna to the Sanammda front vis Ango Cotnet, snipers were thinned out.
The Japanese position ' ?*/ (tee Map 3) uttf^Junc- Movement, .at night was s
tiofl of the trail to Cape Ktlkrtoci with the; Soputa-' one fata) accident' this rule \
Sanananda road had been holding up the /Allied ad- avoid disclosing the positic
vane?, but a roadblock maintained by A Used troops men used Only hand grenade
to the north forced the enemy to rely on the round- M.usket was the main A] lie
about and difficult Kitlerton Trail for supplying his perimeter consisted of two ;
front. The situation along this road wxi extraordinary each side of the mu T hi
with Jap positions and Allied positions luted. up in artillery noc planes and tb
leapfrog fashion. 'The original Allied roadblock, about tree bums prevented eiiecnv
a half mile north of the Jap advance position, was sequently, it was a battle of
A toldiar of 41*J Headquarters Compact) gets dertfal treatment at o d/jp«nsc*/. at Os&UduM.
Jap defends consisted of groups of bunkers arranged north but had moved only twenty yards -when.-; ft. came
about five yards apart hr circular or ova) patterns on. under a heavy crossfire. About halfway between Mas-
both sides of the road. Autoniatk weapons were ar- ket and Q it dug in, at one point Only twenty feet
ranged to fire from six to eight filches above -the from Q. Failure to accomplish its mission '-wav due
ground anilOiiionjgf: .fire lanes so carefuUy cleared that to inadequate fire support, the unexpected depth of
little disturbance of the funglc vc;ei apparent. Around rhe swamp in front of Company C and the use of a
these perimeters were trip wires and vines attached to frontal attack instead of a flank attack by Company B,
warning rattles Enemy patrol* -arid snipers wete active Company TVs frontal attack was made necessary by the
on a) I sides location of the Australian artillery .
During the seven-week stalemate winch .existed prior By 7 January the 2d. Battalion of the 1.6 $d infantry,
to the arrival of the 1 63d infantry. American and less some ok its heavy weapons, bad been flown in and
Australian .patrols discovered several jap defensive had moved ro bivouac along the supply trad east of
positions along the Soputa^SaoinaudA AiacCbut there the road. Company E moved mto Musket tp relieve
\vas no clear andfetttend^fig as to tlufir nature or extent. Company B, the Tatter s siktfencheS being waist-deep
Patrols of the 1 63d befweeii T ind 7 jAhu^ry found with water and the men in rmiti h rieed of sleep and
t.hiit just north of Musket there were fWvi enemy pe/irne- hot. food. Company B resumed its- jxtsifiori in the iib.es
lets: Q on the west and R nip the east of the road- on the twn.e -to enable Coni'
At noon on $ January,* follWjiifc a fltWieo-minute artd pany 11 .'to .participate in the fight for the enemy road>
tery, machine-gun and mortar preparation. Companies block a half mile due vyesi of Musket on the Killerton
B and C of the. 3 63d s 1st Battalion attacked perimeters Trad. Tins roadblock later called Perimeter Rankin
R and Q. ■ Company- C attacked >ourb from, the supply after Captain {later Colonel) Waiter R Rankin of
trad leading to Fisk via tire Moore perimeter but %vas the 3.63 d.- had been used bv the enemy to supply his
Stopped tn front of its objective by a swamp which advanced positions
was more than waist deep as a result of heavy rain Thik move by tTur 2 d Battalion wa*' Tile finst phase
during the preceding night. Company B advanced of a divisional plan of attack which; was to employ
PubU
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BAPTISM OF FIRE
39
junction with the Soputa-Sanananda road, the Killer-
ton Trail now was open and the first phase of the
divisional attack plan was completed.
At 0730 on 15 January, the platoon from Company
A attacked from Q and managed to get inside Perime-
ter R from the north without being detected. The rest
of the company pushed in to strengthen this toehold
and Company C moved out from Fisk to press the
attack from the east. Companies B, E, G and K were
released from their southward movement by the 7th
Division, and Company B was sent to the west side of
R to complete the l63d’s stranglehold on the enemy.
Bunker after bunker fell to small groups of men using
grenades, rifles and submachine guns, but the Japs
clung tenaciously to the position until the following
day when the last ones were wiped out. The second
phase of the attack was to begin the following day.
Reserve elements of the Aussies mopped up south
of Musket while the 18th Brigade moved up the Killer-
ton Trail through the l63d’s 2d Battalion at Rankin
to carry out the envelopment of Sanananda. After the
Australians had passed through its lines the 2d Bat-
talion moved north from Rankin about one and a half
miles along the Killerton Trail to the Coconut Garden,
where a branch trail was believed to connect with the
Soputa-Sanananda road. On the heels of the Aus-
tralian advance, the 2d Battalion was to follow the
branch trail east to the road, taking the rear of the
enemy positions north of Musket. The 3d Battalion
was to operate from Musket and Fisk and was sched-
uled to complete the reduction of Perimeter U. The
1st Battalion was to attack west of the road enveloping
Jap positions known to be located north of Fisk. Two
batteries of Australian 25-pounders and two tanks were
assigned to support the regiment and fifteen 81mm
mortars were massed at Musket.
Meanwhile, elements of the 3 2d Division had ex-
panded their bridgehead north of Konombi Creek in
the push up the coast from Tarakena.
In preparation for the attack on the Soputa-Sanan-
anda road, Companies A, B and C of the 163d, which
had been reducing Perimeter R, were relieved late in
the afternoon of the 15th by elements of Companies
K and L. Harassing artillery fire was thrown at the
enemy during the night of the 15th-l6th in the area
north of Musket and a fifteen-minute barrage preceded
the jumpoff at 0900. Machine guns raked the trees
and brush northwest of Fisk where Companies A, B and
C were to advance around the right flank of the enemy
positions and effect a junction with the 2d Battalion
on the road. Soon after the jumpoff, Company A on
the right drew heavy machine-gun fire from the Jap-
anese Perimeter S and was pinned down. Company C
on the left, followed by Company B, met almost no
opposition as it swung around to the road where a
bivouac was established at Perimeter AD. Meanwhile,
Company A had about twenty heat-exhaustion casual-
ties and was ordered to withdraw and join Companies
B and C in the new perimeter. This withdrawal was
made under Japanese fire, in daylight, and made pos-
sible by fire from Company B.
The Aussies had passed through the 2d Battalion
and had advanced up the Killerton Trail. The 2d Bat-
talion had begun to move eastward from the Coconut
Garden toward the road but after it had progressed
some eight hundred yards the trail ended and the
troops were forced to chop their way through the
jungle on a compass course aimed at the 1st Battalion
objective. Companies F and G came out on the road
just south of AD and encountered a Company B patrol
which guided them into the bivouac area. Part of
Company H had been left behind near the Coconut
Garden to guard a trail junction, but the rest of the
company chopped its way eastward to the road at a
point a mile north of AD where it made contact with
patrols of the Australian 18th Brigade which had
moved eastward from Cape Killerton along trails
roughly parallel to the coast. The 2d Battalion en-
countered numerous small parties of Japs during this
movement and killed more than a hundred.
To the north the attack was making progress. By
evening on 16 January the Australians, carrying out a
wide envelopment, had reached the sea. One battalion
of Aussies faced a stubborn enemy group on the west
coast of the bay while another battalion, advancing on
the right flank, was on the road about a mile from
the coast and in contact with the 1 63d Infantry’s 2d
Battalion. The 32d Division’s phase of the attack still
was bogged down.
An enemy plan for an orderly withdrawal along the
road to the beach at Sanananda had been thwarted and
his remaining forces were split and under heavy pres-
sure, short of ammunition and starving. The first evi-
dences of cannibalism had been discovered to support
this latter point. During the night of 16-17 January,
high-ranking Jap officers removed their wounded from
barges in which they set off to seek safety for them-
selves.
Following reduction of the Jap strongpoint on 16
January, Colonel Doe sent the following message to
his command:
Your Regimental Commander wishes to commend the offi-
cers and men of the 1 63d Infantry Combat Team for the fine
planning, organization and individual excellence in execution
of the successful operations of 16 January 1943 against the
strongest point on the Japanese main defenses between Soputa
and Sanananda Point, New Guinea.
This enemy strongpoint had held up the operations of the
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
■
Men of 'the 4M?. Divitibn enjoy a USO Camp 5fre»*» af their »e*' playhouse at Buna.
There moment* fpr rotpxaSiafi, pnd h*r» t> >Jt»r
AHteJ forces for ti^ht wffks. The dttffmifwtion anJ a^res- arid finally on the 1,9th a platoon from Company I
Siva of the members of rt»< tommaml lw ce^uHal in .a ,,jrc}ed east and north from Fisk and accurately- located
mri!^r^L mA1m hWght "“** ‘° ^ 0urSeKci *“ the Jap perimeter at U. Company f- had by now
ite JAM rmantcy Gxnbat Team, i am indeed fought its way southward along the' road to the north
proud, r.o be one of you side of T. Reconnaissance in force bad expbrecr the
ground between the two main posi mows of the UAd
The exact nature of the remaining defenses on the and the general enemy perimeters' •were known-" Ptqv
Soputa-*SjnananiJ:i road was unknown but it was be- ^rations were made for an attack on the 2(>th at which
iteved tbki a cottsiclerabie forc^ efikeftched be- rime the three petitions would. he ovefrnh
tween Fisk and Fenmcter AD On 17 January Com- to north beginning with U just after noon on the day
pany B probed southward from AD until it was halted set far the attack the Australian ZVpoundm fired 250
by fire from bunkers at Perimeter S. The next day rounds On the target area while the mortars massed
Company C pushed forwatd east* of Company B to. at Musket let go a barrage of 750 rounds, and machine
emxdop S bat was stopped by fire from both thinks. gum of Company M air Imk combed the trees and
Then Companies A and K /. (attached to the 1st Bar- brush. As this preparation ended. Company L which
tihon j extended the envelopment raoyement^stdl fury ; Was poised for the assault; suffered the loss of Capiat n
the r eastward but encountered artpdier enemy per imc Duncan V. Dupree -andTirst ; $etgeaiif j&mZ&W, jfelind
ter «n Tv About noon the enetfiy* wJk> wa$ by now dimugh a short mortar .round; while a irciper gut one
cuugjtt between the 1st arid 2d Battalions uf the 1 63<C of the platoon leaders.- • This caused a delay in the
showed signs of fits netyousnm by opening fire on art.uk and by the rune it was la u ncked ? fie' '"effect of
Fisk Without first being attacked, this being one of very thie bombardment was lost", the enemy; fed .slipped from
tew tnihfoees in which Hus happened. The feeling out hh bunkers back into firing position and halted the
of these enemy -continued for .several days- attack. . l-'ili'i
io pay tribute fa foil* n comrade* A^$/i ot the 2d battalion, )&$d Infantry, seek grave* of buddiai after
"’■''HtHflitifidtl wWce* of Sopuia an Memorial Da y, ■'‘*943,-
upames A and K. fob apparent h\s end was near. Often he destroyed him
{ration of mortar, art'il- seif with pbtal os -grenade rather than face the hu
, Perimeter T, breached miikuion of capwre Some of the iw who were taken
once they were Inside. prisoner demanded to be shot in Older that they might
nf of Companies ft and not he dishonored. ' . t
iH four companies wit? % evening of 22 January the Bu»Ta-$anananAi op-
id' in (ess than an hour, erartpns were finished, judged by operations in other
itr .shell-fire killed many theaters this was a small show, but u removed the
their bunkers until the threat pf an enemy faml attach onlPoit M$r esby. More
ough to throw grenades than five thousand Japanese soldiers and marines had
ices or 'shoot down the been killed, some 1**100 of them being accounted for
rorn their holes After by fbe Tfi?d Infantry. The U'Gd captured more Jap
re counted, many show- equipment than had been taken, by any other Allied
(ifeeam. fo^e.^6 similar sue since the Pacific WAx . he he
r of the men were with: men ' w!v::< fought in the stinking. swamps; d£ fepus,
ubd- 4hd ^ dm^fahtly harassed by ■ diseases and 'heat iwhidr ac-
tuary, 51 japs Aceye counted for far tiijort cisu4t«if;^ i -’flid the enemy, had
; ! 5 bivouac on the nyjsl grounds for pride in their victory. Many times
hundred reinforcements the men of the 4 1st Division faced the ravages of
her near Girua but they starvation as food reserves *ank dangerously low. They
: trying to escape west- bad fought the enemy* they had Knight the jungle and
i Company K * fhey had learned their bitter lesson* well
es I and L ati&dvtd 1) & .speaking of the comparison' in casualties' through-
{S t as the last rounds of 0ut dn$ dreadful campaigrt, General Mar Arthur said;
lesistance was weak and ...... ± t , ...
. . v .lh^e..hgares .reverse 1 the. usual result, oi ground 'otfen^ve:-
.ers made contact With c&np5uga, .eSpi-daUy agamst prepared pojflififl*- defended; K>
red Company h on the the last. There was rio rvason ro hurry die attack because the
b:it’tafki?TS ; -had' one mitn time element was of little importance For that reason ;Vq
killed 69 laps Those attempt wav made tq rush t\v: portions. The; utmost, care wa»
\ o# lw rGrw !<. . w K»>h taken Tor the coi)*;»vaf ion of our forces with the result that
5. :■■.■ ■ ' P ' , probably no i arnpaj^f? in history agairva a thoroughly prepared
T* and irained A riny produced suclv complete and 4 cvh« vc oesult5
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42
THE JUNGLEERS
In his message to the 163d Infantry, General Eichel-
berger wrote:
As Commanding General of the Advance New Guinea
Forces may I extend my heartiest congratulations and deep
gratitude for the part each of you has played in inflicting upon
the Japanese the first major land defeat they have suffered.
Realizing the difficulties and almost insurmountable obstacles
which faced you in the accomplishment of your mission it was
with a great deal of pride that I reported to the Commander-
in-Chief the importanct contribution of your Regiment to our
momentous victory.
I deeply regret the loss of those who fell in combat and
have the utmost sympathy for the families and friends in
their bereavement. To those of you who remain I offer my
best wishes for the continued success of your Regiment in
battle. You and your unit have helped to make history in the
jungles of New Guinea.
People on the home front followed the activities of
the Montana Regiment of the 4lst Division with a
great deal of pride. The story which broke on the
front pages of the papers on the morning of 9 January
1943 was the first news that people back home had of
the Division’s activities for more than a year.
The State Legislature in session at Helena, Mon-
tana, cabled the 163d Regiment, composed in part of
rugged Indians from that Rocky Mountain state, the
following message:
With vibrant admiration for your magnificent victory over
the Japanese on the Papuan Peninsula of New Guinea and
elsewhere, with prayers for the wounded and with undying
resolve to carry on the hign purpose of our noble dead, the
hearts of the people of Montana are with you, beating as one
every hour of the day.
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Chapter 5: The Mopping-up Phase
I N THE LAST WEEK of January the 186th Infan-
try Regiment, under command of Colonel John T.
Murray, was flown over the Owen Stanley Moun-
tains to relieve elements of the 32d Division at Buna
and Gona and to mop up the remnants of the enemy.
The 1st Battalion relieved the 128th Infantry of the
32d, taking over from Cape Sudest north to include
Cape Endaiadere. The 2d Battalion relieved the 127th
Regiment, taking over the defense of Cape Giropa,
Buna and Buna Mission, and patrolled to Tarakena
Point. The 3d Battalion was regimental reserve and
went into bivouac at Sememi.
The defeat of the Japs at Buna, Gona and Sanananda
wound up the Papuan phase of the fight but was only
the beginning of a long and more tedious campaign.
On 1 February, Company G of the 163d Regiment,
under Captain Benson, moved approximately twenty-
two miles northwest of Gona to the mouth of the
Kumusi River. A reinforced platoon from the 186th
Regiment was attached to Company G at Sebari. The
leader of this platoon reported a Jap position about
six hundred yards north. While the remainder of the
unit ate, a patrol set out for more definite information
about this position.
Shortly after noon the patrol returned with a report
that no enemy had been sighted and the company then
moved to the south bank of the Kurerda River. A
small raft was constructed on which three men, Ser-
geant Ronald M. Bretzke, Private Ramsey and War-
rant Officer Dixon, crossed the river. Shortly after
these men left a small Jap assault boat was brought
up from the rear and loaded in preparation for the
remainder of the patrol to cross.
Preparations for crossing had just been completed
when Sergeant Bretzke discovered a group of sleeping
Japs. He ran to the river’s edge to give warning, but
the Japs, who had been aroused by this time, opened
fire, killing Bretzke and wounding two men on the
opposite side of the river. Enemy mortars went into
action and a third man on the south side of the river
was wounded.
One platoon of Company G was in defilade along
the south bank of the river. It returned fire and finally
the enemy fire ceased. Meanwhile, Ramsey and Dixon
had taken cover behind a log on the sand spit between
the ocean and the river. The tide was coming in and
they were being fired upon. They were forced to swim
out to sea and after going several hundred yards south
they made the shore safely.
The company dug in along the south bank of the
Kurerda River while the natives were returned to
Sebari. The company commander also returned to Se-
bari to radio a report to regimental headquarters. The
radio failed so the message was sent to Gona by a surf
boat equipped with an outboard motor. Mortars and
additional ammunition were requested. Colonel Doe
and Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Dawley, Executive
Officer of the 163d Infantry, arrived to appraise the
situation and correct supply and communication pro-
blems.
On the morning of 3 February, 47 men from Com-
pany M arrived with four mortars and immediately
placed fire on the opposite bank of the river. Under
cover of this barrage the 1st Platoon of Company G
under a Sergeant Jones crossed the river and advanced
about four hundred yards before it was pinned down.
The river was parallel to the beach for about a hun-
dred yards. The strip of land between the river and
the beach was about one hundred and fifty yards wide
and about seventy-five yards of it was heavily wooded.
The Japs were dug in throughout this jungle area.
The 3d Platoon of Company G crossed the river but
was unable to advance; it was followed by the 2d Pla-
toon which also came under enemy mortar fire. The
1st Platoon fell back and called for another mortar
barrage on the enemy, but when it renewed the attack
it again was pinned down. The 1st Platoon withdrew
and established a perimeter north of the river and about
fifty yards from the enemy position.
During the morning of 4 February another hammer-
ing by mortars was meted out to the Japs but the
attempt to take the position again failed. A platoon
from Company L came in as replacements and the next
morning this unit and the platoon from the 186th
Infantry moved over an inland route to Fuffarda and
Kumbado where they left two squads as rear guard.
The remainder of the two units pushed on to the sea-
coast to attack the Japs from the rear and drive them
into Company G.
The patrol worked its way south along the coast but
was late in reaching its objective. After making contact
with the Japs it withdrew to a perimeter off the coast-
line and the Japs withdrew along the coast.
On the morning of 6 February Company G advanced
north to make contact with the platoon from the 186th,
these two units meeting in mid-morning. The 186th
platoon turned around and went back up the coast,
spending that night in Bakumbari Village, while Com-
pany G bivouacked north of the Kambela River mouth.
The company started north the next morning with
the 186th platoon as advance party. About 1600 they
reached another river and used Higgins boats in an at-
tempt to land on the beach above the river, but heavy
• Jap machine-gun fire made this impossible.
The next morning mortars and Australian 25-
pounders placed fire on the enemy positions, enabling
43
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
THE JUNGLEER 5
mattered as much as seventeen miles from ttipru
Moresby had fina ) ty u itdekgDhg its one hUnd.red^b-febMv
mg apd the raid* had long teased to be megg (hart a
nuisance The town bore battle sears bur it was much
better oft thari the men hid bee» led t<v\h?]i«eve. The
secOocl rtiglii the f62d was m -Moresby, erremy planes
roared overhead and the men experienced an earnest
blackout but no bombs fell. Water was scared md a .
downp^ir of ram aievays. was v^ekome because it
brhngbfcan impromtstu shmver bath and the men readily
took advantage or each ram.
The twi^ined^ a£ Qhly three days and
then. sailed ground the lower end of the island and .on
to the area which was to be home for the next several
months On 27 February the unffe reached Milite Boy
and cxpenenc^d a tfriidl air; raid, its. 'fytk’fi^aiy fire;
Here the men got an idea of I ffie in the combat area
•as cOmp^d^tir The$ garrison life During a Ma-ck.^
-out in Australia; they wire accustomed to driving
blackedout vehicles wulv r<'u»d spacing oE ope bun-
tired- and fifty yards ^heu they entered the combat
mnt .they Teamed that vehicles were- driven bumper to
humper with tights burning until the last minute before,
the raid and that the lights wEfiTori immediately after
the uiiiers Idri
Otri Bay; thepmmt of debarkarimh. Was reached early,
ui March As these greenhorns stepped on land they
ivcrK dssailed wirh rumors and outlandish rales circu-
lated by of the Division who had preceded
them info dkar£a. An example of these tal I tales w as
•la: story that there were japs all around m small
gfriiips and that resistance: Was sa scarce that platoon
leaders would (lip a .coin to decide who was to go and
dean out a prxktl of a mere two hundred or so japs,
Tbe2d Battalion of the I62d marched from Ora Bay
to G»>na where a took up positions in beach defense
A doughboy of f he 162d frtfa ntry ruadf Hie Australian vdtiiofr of Yahk
rbo jungle* of N*w Gumso during a lull in ifte action
the platoon from the 186th Regiment to land without
opposition. Wien if had cleared the area of enemy’
resistance it; moved up die coast jo the next, river.
When the rest of the force arrived at- the uy£t another
barrage was laid down but the Higgins boats were not
available. By the- time two jap assault boat* wr,rc sal-
vaged, darkness was falling and no was
attempted.
The boa on the 9tb but they got
stuck on the beach arid the two jap boats had to be
used. After nV ) king the crossing Company G pushed
to the next over or tnlef. No hoary were available and
the water Ik re was too deep to allow the men to hard
the inlet, fbe men rebuilt a native dugout canoe arid
used it to transport equipment and clothing while they
resorted to swimming. The crossing was completed
shortly before midnight and the company spent the
night on the north shore
On 'the 10th, ( ompany G pushed on to the Kumusi
River and established a perimeter there. Patrolling ac-
tivity continued until, the • ,14th when Company L carne
in to relieve Company G and carried on the moppmg*up
activities.
On February the l62d fri&ntryi \Vhich had been
iriuhdirig out its training in Australia* left for New
Guinea, sailing across the Coral Sea as if it were on
an excursion lake cruise. This unit travelled mostly on
Dutch vessels;
The convoy arrived at the Division staging area at
Port Moresby.^ which by now was extremely active. Both
American and Austral ran forces had installatrons there,
tyatl wai a welcome item in r.very man's lifet overseas. Hire o' mortar
. ty** pin/ser >c fend fellers & hunefrod yards from Jap posit lent.
Austral rani anti Yoaju gather in front of fin American Rod 'Cross hut «n N*» Gv<n»q to listen to phonograph music.
an<J Wilt iyirtificattotts along a thrce-ntitc strekh f whs During the campaign phase of this period the average
Rasabua on the south to- a point several hundred yards loss of weight per man . (supposedly. trained, hardened
noitb of Gona Inlet Gradually units of the Ki2d In- fighters) in this area was estimated by medical crffkers''
f aft by relieved the load Regiment which, then went to be twenty-six pounds. Not aril of this, loss could be
intb Divisioiv reserve, / \ attributed to an inadequate diet, but & la^ge^part«df
As this newly Arrived regiment total: over t he varjo.uS -it was.
areas it gained act idea as ip the intensity of the fight Several times bad .flying weather halted the air. Uar>s-
which had taken place, liana, Gona and Sananianda port of food and stockpiles went dangerously low. At
were brown against a green background Trees were one time service was interrupted for eight days. It was
whacked -off. imd ; splintered • by artillery sheds and neady thr ee months before the men got any fresh meat,
bombs, jap bodies and equipment littered the area. As and then the only meat that did arrive was buljy beef,
time passed all the battlefields took On tins same which was only slightly better than the canned variety
haunting, beaten, flattened appearance: One day some bread was flown jn and even though it
By this time the entire dess the artillery and was two days old it was gobbled up as readily as if it
small detachments id the ayrnponent units, was com had just come out of the oven
centrated in New Guinea Rations were a problem.. General Riiea, who had been Assistant Division Carrs*
1 loops were living on Australian canned ’‘bully beef*' madder, *a$ relieved of his duties on 22 February upon
and. "dog biscuits/* two-inch squares of indestnjctihle Urgent, call from General Mae Arthur^ headquarters,
army bfecuff, Tlie stoty '#4s';c’tNhjafecl : that a He was put m coimnand of the United States Army’s
these deteciable appetiifer^ was left w the ram experi- newly established base port at Sydney. His departure
mentally for three days and at the end of that time they broke a long association with the Division,
were just as hard .as ever. On 14 March Jens A. Ch?c received word of his
Around 13 January € rations began arriving, promotion to brigadier general. When he left com-
Although this type ration is hot uinsicleted ideal as a mand of his 1 63d Infantry Regiment to accept the post
constant diet, it was considered a delicacy by this time, of Assistant Division Commander he wroje "it ’is not
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THE MOPPING-UP PHASE
47
easy to leave. In the past eight months our training was
brought to a peak which was culminated in the Battle
of Sanananda. The Regiment met and overcame a
treacherous and ruthless foe in carefully organized
positions of his own choosing. The units of the Regi-
ment displayed those qualities of initiative, daring,
courage and intelligent teamwork which have charac-
terized our best American troops in past wars.
"The immediate cause of my promotion was the strik-
ing success of the Regiment. The plans played a part;
it was the execution of the plans that was important
and brought victory. It is not easy to leave an organi-
zation and comrades in arms after such associations.
In farewell, I wish the 163d continued success in win-
ning the war, and each one of you good fortune. May
everything come your way until the end."
Lieutenant Colonel (later Colonel) Francis Mason
assumed command of the 163d Infantry upon General
Doe’s promotion.
The job now was not one of training but one of pre-
paring and re-equipi'ng the unit for further encounters
with the Sons of Heaven. This was another one of
those periods of waiting, the waiting which comes
when a unit is building stockpiles of supplies for future
moves.
Roads at first were all but impassable. It took an
hour and a half by jeep to get from Soputa to Division
Headquarters at Dobodura. From Division Headquar-
ters it was a four-hour struggle to the base port at Oro
Bay, if anything on wheels could get through. There
was no bottom to the mud and a lot of bulldozers were
required to get a convoy over that road. Everything
received for the first three months had to be brought
in from the bay port by jeep over an almost impassable
road, or in small ships to one or two beach landing
paints.
The road-building program was the top project and
the stretch between Dobodura and Oro Bay came first.
The 116th Engineers, aided by several hundred chant-
ing natives and one company of the 64lst Tank De-
stroyer Battalion, toiled on this operation. When it was
completed the unit had a fine road.
Natives were put to work constructing a camp site.
Huts, consisting of a pole-frame and palm-leaf roof,
were built and as time passed these acquired some kind
of wooden floors and a waist-high railing.
One night a group of men living only a few hun-
dred feet from the Sambogo River were awakened by
a commotion and a gentle lapping against the bottom
of their cots. Upon further investigation they found
that the river had risen six to eight feet very rapidly
due to rain in the hills and had flooded the area.
Until the early part of May life was fairly calm and
serene for the Sunsetters. There were frequent air raids,
which usually did little damage, and as each day passed
Jap planes became more and more scarce. One day in
March, twenty-eight bombers came over in perfect for-
mation. Many thought they were American but little
black puffs began springing up throughout the area
indicating that the Japs had completed one of their few
successful sneak raids. Jap bombers sometimes were
very inaccurate, dropping their loads of death and des-
truction six miles from what should have been their
target. Most of the Division units had excellent jungle
cover but a raid still called for a blackout, which
usually interrupted a good poker game. Many times
men would desert their shelters and watch the raid
much as one watches an aerial circus performance. Jap
dive bombers were much more effective and accounted
for some Allied shipping. However, the ever improv-
ing ground gunners soon made dive bombing a poor
paying adventure.
Radio Tokyo spent many hours throwing propaganda
at the Sunset troops, but few soldiers ever listened.
During campaigns no one listened to the radio and
during rest-up periods Armed Forces Radio service
stations came in clearer. One of the better known Japa-
nese radio shows was Tokyo Rose. She attempted to be
satiric in her patter but lacked the cleverness. She did
have quite a collection of recordings by the bands of
Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, but
this music could be heard on any station which it was
possible to pick up. Another Japanese radio show which
became widely known was the Zero Hour, another
program featuring recorded music. Usually the music
was on the sentimental side so that fear and home-
sickness could be spread among the Allied troops.
Typical of the sign-off comments was: "Well, if the
little man with the long bayonet hasn’t finished you off
by this time tomorrow, tune in again."
Tokyo Rose at times had information that was amaz-
ingly accurate but many times, to the amusement of her
listeners, she predicted and confirmed extermination of
the 4 1st Division at Oro Bay.
The Division supply situation was nearly solved by
mid-April and roads had been greatly improved. Oro
Bay now was within easy reach, being only a twenty-
minute trip.
Sunday was a day of dancing for the native villagers
and a large crowd of soldiers always was on hand to
watch the village virgins do their endless version of a
Paul Jones. The dance was done to a chant and the
girls had their hair streaked with ochre while their
faces were sometimes striped with yellow. The men
would join in the chanting and noise-making and at the
height of the ceremony one native, well smeared with
paint, wearing a false face and leaves, leaped into the
ring, brandishing a symbolic spear.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
G&ft#r<a/ MacA/fhar c hots with Moj: Gan. florae* H. Fuller of far Making an’inspaefian of the 41 tf Division on Mar Guinea
Tiie natives smoked a violent brand of black twist Guinea could offer — sweeping downpours that kept
tobacco. They rolled if in newspaper, about six indies the men almost .constantly soaked.
long, with, tobacco only ni the on* side end Most of the One incident of the shmf Moresby stay which will
native men chewed betel nut,, which gavg them a cheap long live 141 the menu vie;- of these actlUerymfcn & the
drunk and earned thtic teeth bw$i., long pavement of laundry smp that- w^Jald that first
In April, almost one ytat after m ms&& 1 in Au&tatui; morpfpg as the trucks drove fWmdhe do<k'm tjie camp
che 4 lit Division Artillery, less the: i6?rh FA Batialian, she Division Headquarters had some PX supplies coitk
started the trek from Australia To New Guinea, The log up -with this echelon* .and dhese jjftms' were
group sailed from Gladstone to Om Bay via Milne Bay. crates of soap. The crates vvere loaded on trucks and
At Milne the convoy seas subjected to an attack by one i.n the transition from the ship s hold to the trucks the
.hundred .Jap bombers and the troops were put ashore crates were; broken open arid the soap was'- -shewn all
post haste* T^’O of the ships were Sunk by jap dive along the route to the camp. The next day each unit
bombers add the supplies of the 2pHh t*A Battgiion had jeeps out scavengihg bars of so£p fyfhe;h had fallen
Went down on one of. the ^hips. Lclss pf (t$ fcvpf^gs; from the trucks. Soap of any kind \v^ as precious as
kept the 2U^th at Milne longer and it was not until 24 ingots of gold.
April dwt this" battalion reached Oro Bav The 2 1 8th At about this ume the 1 46th FieM Artillery Battalion
FA Battalion, Division Artillery Headquarters and was assigned ta the prosak job of a labor battalion a?
Headquarters Battery had. moved into- the' -defensive Milne Bay. The 167th Field Artillery .Battalion had
installations at the Gona .sector, following a brief stay been left im Townsville where it hud been tram mg as a
.at Port Moresby. pack-artillery outfit..
This group f fraud Moiesby a welcome surprise. The From Moresby the remainder of the artillery pro-
men had heard about New Guinea with us jungles, rain ceeded to Teeming, batrle-scarred Qm Bay, Here they
forests, mud and malarial swamps but here they' found witnessed the mute testimony of the Japanese bombings,
a bus Bing; busy little town, not too badly damaged; Three sUriken Allied ships nearly fi 11 edtfie tiny harbor,
The higoujc area was ortjy a few rrhigs from town and rherr sides and decks awash, their spars and masts siigfc
had been hewed out of the hillside. Fur eiHerUuument ; iftg upward', in •a- fcihd of silent • commumVm...
the town offered a ctfu pie of theaters and a Red Cross The units Were assigned overnight camp areas near
Club But there was the rain — ram. that only New the beach and the orgy of . .urj load ing • began.' The day
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THE MOPPING-UP PHASE
49
of landing was hot and officers and men sweated and
strained at the task of unloading and separating sup-
plies. Shifts were scheduled to work throughout the
night and Oro-based portable kitchens kept C rations
and hot coffee on hand for the laborers.
At 2000 there was a red alert. All vehicles travelling
between the docks and supply points were halted. Sen-
tries posted by the base command on the jutting bare
hills that rimmed the bay, called down to the toiling
men below, ordering all fires and lights to be extin-
guished. (These were the days before the conventional
three red flares were used to herald an attack.) Men
huddled together in groups, speculating and nurturing
the first of those fears that only bombed peoples of the
earth can ever truly know. Nerves became taut as the
hours rolled slowly by but the men peered into the
darkness and listened. At about 2315 the "all clear"
sounded. Lights came on and the quiet which had pre-
vailed throughout the alert now was shattered by reborn
voices. Work was resumed and the ships in the harbor,
which had sought the open sea, opened their holds to
allow men to finish the unloading. When morning
came the men trekked into the mess, dirty, unshaven
and tired.
About mid-morning the air raid alert sounded again.
Almost before the echo had died away, bombs from an
enemy force of fifty-nine planes were falling on Oro
Bay. The docks and tightly packed ships were the im-
mediate targets. On the docks, caught in the initial
terror of the attack, were men who only a moment
before had been busy at the task of moving equipment
from docks to the shore. The first bombs hit behind
the beach road, igniting gasoline dumps and outer in-
stallations. Even in the initial panic men, acting auto-
matically, reached the slit trenches that rimmed the bay.
But once they were safely in their holes they could not
stay too far under the earth, because the sight of Ameri-
can planes rising to give chase, the dogfights in the sky
overhead, the excitement of the whole tragic business
was too great. The fiercely burning gas dumps filled
the blue heavens with fat, rolling clouds of black
smoke. There had been casualties, but no dead.
Signs began appearing everywhere. These added a
light touch to things, bringing an occasional much-
needed laugh or smile and easing the strain for some
man for the moment. Typical of the signs was that
erected by a makeshift, haywire lumber concern, GI
operated. On an old mounted, circular saw was painted
“Thick and Thin Lumber Co. Our Best Is None Too
Good." Over the Division Quartermaster Office, com-
manded by Colonel Frederick C. Roecker, was “Dobo-
dura Trading Co., F. C. Roecker, Prop. Hay — Grain —
Oats — Boats." Then there was the inevitable signpost
which gave the direction and mileage to such points as
San Francisco; Tokyo; St. Louis; Sing Sing; Rigby,
Idaho; Croneyville; and Sally, Irene and Mary.
While there was a lull in the fight the men worked
hard to add a bit of comfort to their quarters. They
took machetes and built everything with practically
nothing. They dug wells and made furniture without
nails or lumber. A well placed grenade off the beach
usually was good for a mess of fresh fish.
The supply situation was well in hand and the Japs
at Salamaua had been sounded out. Bigger things were
hatching and the question of who was going to strike
where, was the important topic of the day.
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Chapter 6: Seventy- Six Days of Combat
T HE l62d Infantry, commanded by Colonel A.
R. MacKechnie, ended its long period of waiting
and got its baptism of fire in the fight which
resulted in the fall of Salamaua and Lae, seventy-six
days after the initial landing. In brief the story of the
campaign was a landing at Nassau Bay, a junction with
the Australians on Bitoi Ridge in the Mubo sector, then
a slow process of driving the Japs off the ridges around
Tambu Bay, with Roosevelt Ridge and Scout Ridge
offering the greatest resistance.
An extensive and extremely hazardous air and
ground reconnaissance into Salamaua had been made
by Lieutenant Rod Orange with the aid of a couple of
native trackers. The place was seething with Japs and
even though he was far beyond his own forces, Lieu-
tenant Orange stayed out nearly a month and brought
back such detailed and accurate information that he
gained a personal commendation from General Fuller.
A short time later he was reported missing in action
during another reconnaissance mission farther north.
Following the landings at Lae and Salamaua in 1942
the enemy had moved via the Francisco River and Bitoi
River to Wau. The small Australian force opposing
these landings was able to delay the Jap progress only
slightly. By the time the Japs had reached the outskirts
of Wau, reinforcements had again been flown in, and
by January the Jap advance had been halted and the
drive back along the route of their advance had begun.
The Nips then set up strong defensive positions in
the vicinity of Mubo and the Aussies, who had spent
months pecking their way up the Markham Valley,
were unable to dislodge them from these positions.
The 1st Battalion of the l62d Infantry had entered
New Guinea early in 1943, and upon arrival had re-
lieved elements of the 163d Infantry in the defense of
the beach in the Sanananda-Killerton-Gona area and
at the outpost on the mouth of the Kumusi River. By
28 February this battalion had departed from Killerton
by water and leap-frogged, company by company, up
the coast. It occupied the various objectives and pa-
trolled before each successive move. The first stop was
at the mouth of the Kumusi River where a supply base
was established. Then, in turn, the objectives at
Katuna, Opi, Douglas Harbor, and finally the evacu-
ated Jap area at the mouth of the Mambare River were
occupied on 15 March.
During the latter days of March, MacKechnie Force
was activated and initiated a movement to secure the
mouth of the Waria River and Morobe Harbor. This
movement was made largely with trawlers and surf
boats. By 4 April the 1st Battalion had set up defenses
in the Morobe area.
All of this movement north was for the purpose of
flushing out and killing stray Japs from the Buna fight.
These marauders were roaming the countryside stealing
what food they could get. Very few ever were captured
alive. The move to Morobe put the American forces
more than halfway between Salamaua and Buna. The
forthcoming operations were to include the movement
of troops by landing craft at night. Movement inland
was to be on foot, and provisions were to be hand-
carried by troops and natives. Movement was limited
to single files along narrow trails while the combat, in
general, was to occur along the tops of steep ridges
heavily wooded and covered with dense jungle. As the
situation finally developed, 1st Battalion was supplied
from the air for more than five weeks.
Throughout this operation the regiment was attached
to and under the operational control of the Australian
3d and 5th Divisions, which operated under the com-
mand of GOC New Guinea Forces. Differences in
operational methods, expressions and customs some-
times caused misundertanding between the Yanks and
Aussies. Several changes in command occurred and
questions of command authority arose during the opera-
tions, which, added to the natural difficulties of com-
munication, terrain, climate and tactical situation, :
caused no little confusion at times.
The l62d Infantry had been in New Guinea for four
months. Malaria, typhus and other diseases, and the
enervating climate had reduced the troops to poor physi-
cal shape. Units started the campaign with about two-
thirds of their normal strength and in its latter days
several companies were reduced to thirty-five and fifty-
five men because of the hardships of the campaign,
disease and battle casualties.
Artillery and mortars played a major role in this
campaign. Frontal attacks were avoided and the nature
of the terrain precluded attacks by units larger than a
platoon. Throughout the operation several principles
of attack were maintained. They were: Maintain con-
stant pressure in front of the enemy position; pound
the enemy with mortars and artillery; patrol constantly
where the enemy lines are weak; seize a position in the
enemy’s weak spot with a sufficient force to repel the
inevitable counterattacks; follow up vigorously the re-
sultant weakening or withdrawal.
The success of these principles is clearly shown by
the figure of 1,272 Japs killed against a loss of 89
men by the l62d Infantry. The Japs paid at a rate of
better than 14 to 1 in this fight.
In June plans were laid for the capture of Nassau
Bay. Troops assembled at Morobe and patrolled the
area as far north as Cape Dinga. The 1st Battalion,
which had established defenses at the mouth of the
Waria River, was relieved by the 3d Battalion and
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Public^
Supplies sometimes ran low p/fd. as ip the here* man pf the 4 )*f Division hud : if6 utilise Jppanese equipment unfit- ■Qir'ieql-pf'-th# Ahte*icpn brand.
moved south toward the Wa'm River where it env of Nassau Beach, with an outpost and OP on the ndge
barked iin an mfesi* offensive program. near the east end of the penSmsuk. Qrtcyof FIB
The Allies Jfrrijcytd. air superio.^^ and were cptitinu- (Papuan Infantry .’Battalion) scouts had ^ spent. the night
ally hammering Silamanae-Oe; Madang ami Wewak.. ; in a Jap au:r#p, during these patrol? in-g • missions-.
The situation at Mubo had reached a stalemate with'. One company of Australian frocks-. was to be sent
the japs dinging to tiie Mubo Airstrip, pre<?o HilJ, the east from. LafeaWa. Ridge down to theBftos River to
Pimple and Observation H.iil. Lae mrf Salaifratfa were attract the attention of die japs at the luo.njtlir of die
well established as Jap supply bases., river and draw them inland. On the morning after the
The mission of the MacKechnie Force was to (arid landing this company was to continue down to the
at Nassau Bay on the night of 29-30 June, establish & 'Dual* area D-day was set for 30 June with landings
beachhead and supply base and move inland to posi- during the glgbt Jpf 2£'3<> June. During’ the
ttohs on Bitoi Ridge where it would participate^ a $i}0ibitf 28 june'defadfments from the l62d 1&& pla-
coordinated attack with troops of the AusttaJiau 17th toon Were- pasted on Battecu, iasanga and Fkig&n,
Brigade' against the.. Japs in the Mubo area; three islands off shore between Msgeri and Nassau.
By 26 June MacKechnie Force had assembled at One platoon of 'Australians went to the ■ iisncim.g bt.icTu
Mhr.otie and established supply dumps Two days iatgt . cleared it and installed two lights shortly before
‘ill troops had Bern momi Pomh 'the- staging, mwight, 29 June. to guide the landfeg . craft to the
area, except those whith-were to emlb^rk tm beach.
ikt Mo robe. All movement was made under cover of At the same time the PI K i no vet! north from Huso
darkness and alt troops and boats femmned concealed and took,. up positions along the southern Slopes of
during daylight hours. Gape Dinga. parly the following morning they cap-
Allied patrols reported about seventy -five enemy tu red the outposts on Dr ng*C attacked the japs on. the
troops near the mouth of the south arm of the Bipn north coast of rhe pemhsuU ami blocked the escape
RtVCr, an oufpost or. two, along the, beach and about route inland: . .
three hundred japs in bivouac on- Cape Dmga. south Strafing attacks \v toe cart >ed out during rhe after-
s?
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SEVENTY-SIX DAYS OF COMBAT
53
noon of the day before the landing and at dusk three
PT boats loaded seventy men each at Morobe and
moved north to the rendezvous point off Mageri. The
loading at the staging area had begun at dusk and
waves were leaving Mageri at twenty-minute intervals.
The night was extremely dark, rain was coming down
in torrents and a heavy sea was running outside the
harbor. The first two waves made contact with the PT
boats but the third wave failed and continued without
guides. The night was so dark and stormy it was
difficult to see the wake of the preceding boat.
Everything went wrong during the landing at Nassau
Bay, approximately ten miles south of Salamaua. The
leading PT boat overshot the beach; in turning back,
several of the boats carrying the first wave were lost
and much time passed before they could be located.
By this time the second wave was moving ashore and
crossed in front of the first wave, almost causing a col-
lision. As the boats approached shore they found a ten-
to twelve-foot surf pounding the beach. Utter confusion
reigned throughout the landing. Boats of the first and
second waves attempted to land at the same time in
an interval between two lead lights which covered only
half of the landing beach. There was a great deal of
congestion and, due to the high surf, many of the craft
were rammed onto the beach and were unable to get
back to sea. Later boats ran into these beached craft or
over the open ramps. Of eighteen boats which landed
only one made it off the beach and back to sea. All
others broached and filled with water as the high surf
pounded against them. Despite the rough sea, beach-
ing of the landing craft, confusion and congestion, no
men were lost or injured and the only equipment lost
were some Aussie radios, which made communications
somewhat limited thereafter.
Some of the boats which had been lost took shelter
at Buso and attempted to land at Nassau the next
night. However, the troops ashore were undergoing
heavy attack by the Japs and the boats could get no
answer to their recognition signals. They returned to
Mageri and did not land at Nassau until the afternoon
of 1 July.
The leading elements discovered, after they landed,
that the Australian platoon had been lost and had
arrived at the beach only in time to establish two lead
lights, instead of the three that had been planned. This
platoon knew nothing of the enemy situation and was
unable to furnish guides who knew anything about the
beach area. Company A of the l62d moved inland
immediately to a point three hundred yards north of
the landing beach and established a perimeter, while
Company C did likewise three hundred yards to the
south. Company B was being transported in PT boats
and could not land because the landing craft had been
broached. This unit returned to Morobe. No contact
was made with the enemy that night, although several
emplacements and a bivouac area were found aban-
doned. A prisoner, captured later, said that the land-
ing was a complete surprise and that they knew nothing
of it until the boats beached, troops were ashore and
the tractors and bulldozers were at work. Due to the
noise and confusion the Japs thought they were being
attacked by an overwhelming force, including tanks,
and they moved inland and hid in the swamps.
By daylight of 30 June, 740 men of the 1st Battalion
and 218th Field Artillery Battalion had been put
ashore and the beach had been cleared of equipment
and supplies. The artillerymen were equipped with
75mm mountain howitzers. Radio communication was
practically gone and a heavy burden was thrown on the
communications personnel. There was no communica-
tion with the PIB on Dinga for three days.
Company C proceeded south to the mouth of the
Tabali River without opposition. Company A moved
out from the north flank to clear the area to the south
arm of the Bitoi River. After a short distance, it en-
countered enemy mortar and machine-gun fire. The
Japs allowed forward elements to advance into their
positions and then opened fire on the rear. After atten-
tion had been attracted to the rear, they opened fire on
the company headquarters group from carefully camou-
flaged positions. They seemed particularly anxious to
eliminate communications personnel. Resistance here
was greater than had been anticipated. Company A was
reinforced by an Australian platoon and attempted an
enveloping attack, but was forced to withdraw so that
mortar fire could be placed on the Japs. During this
withdrawal the Japs attacked but were held at bay.
The Aussies depleted their ammunition supply and a
detachment of combat and amphibian engineers had to
replace them in the lines. Enemy mortars and machine
guns were silenced but the sniping continued.
Company C, less one platoon, was sent to reinforce
Company A. The remaining platoon set up a defense
north of Tabali Creek and patrolled the area. The rein-
forced Company A continued northward against light
opposition and reached the south arm of the Bitoi by
late afternoon. Here it was to establish strong defen-
sive positions for the night.
As Company A approached its objective the platoon
of Company C, defending the left flank, reported
enemy troops crossing the Tabali near its mouth and
approaching the rear of the platoon. A withdrawal
was ordered and a defensive line from the beach to the
swamp on the south flank of the beach area was to be
established. Before this could be accomplished the Japs
struck from the rear and flanks and the platoon had to
fight its way out to the defensive line. Five men were
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6oo6-pd#0sn ssaobe/
wm\
A fifth Air Faroe photo of th* terrain in the Spiatfaua of*a. Troops of fh« 4lst Division landed at Nassau Boy r mode o junction with the Australians
S9fi$ftoi‘ in the Muba 'Wttor, ond moved l&watd KomiatOtn along the Froneltoo fL*vet\
kilted. troop, mo r batmen from. Company D
and .h«ad<5ui4xtm pf^onnd were organized into a de-
fatsive po^hon an J aided In del a^iag the enemy during
this withdrawal.
The attack o^minued all night. Japs, calling out
names- and using their usual pet English phrases, to fib
trated Allied positrons but could not locate any of our
men due to rhe extepie darkness. The darkness was
advantageous to the enemy too, since it was almost
necessary to gain phy$te£l contact befell the c>ut line of
a body could be detected..
At dawn on 1 July the }ap^ ccp^n<il/hr.e Tr$nr alt
positions and continued firitjg to* fifteen minutes. They
then withdrew, leaving smpees to cover rhe withdrawal.
The Allies had 4 officers and 1 7 !, mftn killed and 27 men.
wounded; >0 Japs were killed,
Tl^remaiiidei: of.COEtp^nyCjomed theplajpoii^nci
the advance continued south for about a thousand yards
M
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SEVENTY-SIX DAYS OF COMBAT
35
north of the Tabali River. Here the men dug in and
patrolled in an endeavor to contact the PIB on Cape
Dinga. During the afternoon the enemy made his first
bombing attack and these continued almost daily there-
after.
Company B, which had to return to Morobe because
of the number of landing craft which had been wrecked
during the initial landing, came ashore early on 2 July.
The PT boats carrying these troops moved into Nassau
Bay and poured cannon and machine-gun fire into Jap-
held villages on Dinga Point. Company C continued
along the Tabali River but still had not made contact
with the PIB on Dinga Point. Company A moved to
the south bank of the south fork of the Bitoi River
and dug in.
After the Nassau Bay area had been secured, Com-
panies A, B, D and Headquarters troops moved up
the south arm of the Bitoi River until they reached
Napier, seven and a half miles inland. They were to
join the Australians in the Mubo-Wau area. However,
considerable resistance was encountered along Bitoi
Ridge. Company D hand-carried its mortars and lug-
ged rations and ammunition over this trail which led
through the swamps and crossed the swift Bitoi three
times. Meanwhile, Company C had pulled back to the
Bitoi River and patrolled the Duali area, clearing all
resistance north to Duali.
Problems of supply became very difficult and air sup-
ply was used. There was a shortage of native carriers
and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep the
forward units furnished with rations. Food ran short
and water was hard to get, men averaging a canteenful
a day for all purposes. Jungle rations had to be mixed
with water, but many times there was no water. Faith-
ful native Boongs packed the precious water up the
precipitous trails, but even when they got to the troops
it was a difficult task to dole out water to thirsty dough-
boys who were under fire. To make matters worse,
the rations given to these men contained salted peanuts.
Reserves of ammunition and rations always were dan-
gerously low during this phase of the campaign.
The artillery had similar problems. It could not get
into position since the road ran only a half mile inland
from the beach. The bulldozer was disabled and the
tractor was buried in mud. Engineers and artillerymen
worked side by side on the road and after four days
Battery C, 218th FA Battalion, had moved inland five
miles and was prepared to support the attack on Bitoi
Ridge.
The ammunition and food brought in on C-47 trans-
port planes had to be dropped some distance from the
troops and the natives carried this equipment, some-
times taking two and a half days to get from the
dropping points to the troops.
Evacuation of wounded men was difficult and dan-
gerous. A landing strip for the tiny Cub planes was
cleared at Mubo but due to the treacherous winds they
could use it only an average of two hours a day. Native
litter bearers won admiration and the undying gratitude
of the men of the 4 1st. Over trails hardly wide enough
for a man to walk, skirting cliffs often five hundred
feet high, they carried the wounded safely and gently.
Always there was the soothing comment, "Sorry, Boss"
at the slightest jolt of the litter.
The attack on Bitoi Ridge and the ridges west of
Bitoi between Buikumbul Creek and Bitoi Ridge got
under way at 0800 on 7 July when the 1st Battalion,
l62d Infantry, moved out of Napier. This route was
two narrow, rough and winding trails up the Bitoi
River to the base of the ridge. The men forded the
swift, swollen river twice. Even with hand ropes strung
from bank to bank some men were washed under and
downstream. However, all were rescued without any
fatalities. The trails went over precipitous rises that
taxed the strength and endurance of the men under
the heavy loads they carried. Mud was heavy and when
a man slipped on the trail, down he would go until
he was stopped by a tree or until he could grab onto
some shrubs or roots. The battalion established a biv-
ouac at the base of the ridge that night while one
platoon pushed forward and established an outpost.
By 6 July the entire force had been landed at Nassau.
Supplies were coming in regularly, dumps were estab-
lished and work was progressing on the jeep road along
the Bitoi River despite the extreme difficulties of
swamps, heavy jungle and incessant rains. The PIB
Company had moved from Cape Dinga to the entrance
of Lake Salus and by 7 July all of MacKechnie Force
had reached Napier.
Two days later Company A captured the ridges adja-
cent to Bitoi Ridge and made contact with the Austral-
ians while Company B moved out to the western tip
of Bitoi Ridge to secure the left flank. From this posi-
tion mortars could be used to support any unit of the
battalion. One platoon from Company A moved north
and west to Buikumbul Creek while one platoon from
Company B patrolled toward Green Hill, finding the
terrain rough and treacherous.
In order to find routes of approach to the junction
of Bitoi River and Buigap Creek, patrols were active
throughout 10 July in the area which was covered with
dense undergrowth.
Early on 1 1 July some casualties returned with the
account of the reinforced platoon of Company A, which
had moved to the northwest between the Buikumbul
and Bui Alang Creeks. On the morning of the 10th
a fighting patrol moved down to Komiatum Track and
then moved southwest along the track. At dawn the
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gle
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IVERSITY OF Mj
SEVENTY MX DAYS OF COMBAT
$?.
patrol £ame upon a jap outpost with ten sleeping Japs
in. a hutment, killed these and continued the advance,
However, after a short while the patrol ran into an
enemy, ambush Which was Covering the track In a
stitt battle over haft ot the platoon became casualties.
Hie remainder returned to the main body of troops
The remainder of the platoon, in the meantime, had
cleared the junction of But Savdln and ftuikornbul
Creeks and continued the trek north of Bui Savclla
Creek. At I BOO the main Jap defenses were contacted
and a fall-scale attack, supposed by mortars and ma-
chine guns, was hunched, out tin’s was repelled with
severe casualties. The platoon was. heavily outnumbered
and/ Mad no support so it withdraw' back Along the
Komiatum Track to its bivouac area of the previous
night The fallowing morn mg the A p l & Wn
moved to -a position on the high gfound; occupied feyca
Company C pJatwn near the head of Bni : kumhul Creek
where there was a remganis^ton ^nd the men drew,
rations.. arid '.'ammunition, and were given five hours far
sleep and rest
At Q930 a mortar barrage laid down on the
enemy m the Burgap Creek area. A patrol from Com-
pany A crossed the ( Abridges over the creek to make
contact with the Aussies on the west side, but. before
contact was made R encountered a large force of japs
moving northeast The pafmt called for mdtUr fire and
Additional men but was forced to Withdraw about mid;
afternoon. One platoon from Company C moved north,
cut the Kamiatum Track' '.north of Bui Aliitg Creek,
set up ambushes and reconnoitered for a trail leading
to Mount Tarobu. ' - • ” ' ‘
On 12 July a Company B platoon contacted the Am-
stes in the vieimty of the junction of Bitot River and
Buigap Creek. Company A attacked the strong jap
position m the Bui Savelh Creek area, fed tow' 'sag 3 a
ittftlkTy- barrage, and cleared Ihe position without the
loss of $ man. By noon of 14 July* the 1st Battalion
had cleared the enemy from Bitch River to the Bin
Alang Creek This ended the first phase of the fight
and for the next two weeks positions were consolidated
•and defenses strengthened:
By 27 July Company B had moved to Mount Tambu
ami plans were formulated for the attack .On that Jap
stronghold, hi the early morning hours of 3$ July the
1st Battalion started the attack with Company C mov-
ing out just as the last mortar rounds were fired The
attack moved slowly and within a half hour the enemy
had halted it with machme-gu n fire, The assault pkn
toorr ivas pinned down, but the second platoon moved
to a positebh just below the crest of the hiij; Some
of the men had worked in dose enough to clear the
first pillboxes, hut tire japs regained Chese
Late ii*i the morning one platoon from Company A
M
A bom b*r drop* roWon* tc fr<mps »# iht -41 si division soniewhetn ifi
W+v* Gl'iruto, when th* tup ply' problem become daspjerat*
moved into the fight, but by noon both Company C
platoons were pinned down, Then a platoon of Com-
pany A swung*' around to the extreme left to outflank
the enemy. The Nips continued to pour in troops and
weapons arid shortly after noon at) umts were pinned
down by automatic . and sm^il-arrns fire and were being
severely pounded by mortars and grenades. Several
minutes later a withdrawal. was ordered, thU being
covered by machine-gun fire and smoke grehades* and
completed by late afternoon. Our casualties were
heavy, one-third of the attacking force having been
either killed ot wounded By IKOft silence reigned over
bloody, enemy 'held Mount Tanibu .
Harassing fire was delivered on Mount Tambu
throughout the next week as the troops organised an
active defense Reconnaissance patrols were constantly
searching for enemy fortifications, weak points, trails,
wafer points and troop movements. Contact was made
with the 3d Battalion of the 1iV2d Infantry which had
landed and was moving/north. Patrols also found that
the enemy held the ridgeime running northeast toward;
-Scout Track One patrol moved around the jap posi-
tions and- located an unoccupied ridge paralleling the
Komi&hin) Track, which served as the main jap supply
ftafiL 'the- Ao^m, moved into position on di ri ridge
fecame'. the 'kfy'fo.'a movermrm which
■forced thg ctjetny to evacuate from Tambu to Good-
view
Co
e
SALAMAUA
4£&0£t&GM£
T hU Air forces phofo i ho*?s thm rugged terrain war 4?*t Qikfiion troop* fought thmir yay /© Spjomoua, After Iho copier* of Mubc ond the
Japanese position*, on Labahia ftidg *. and Green Hilt , rh* attack rnoy e d ixtdng, Auigctp Cteeft )o KomioM/m, yoreyray to Sa/amoLa
Starting 6 August, combat patrols harassed Jap sup- ln.v wopk^| had unriced -j brc^hJy made track crossing
ply and working, patties and esubbshed ambushes at the Mount Tambm Bo/m Track. oft the fotWT G&t&ii-
all known forward watering points. Mortars pounded. s)»4»e v*t the r*clg<-. A - patrol aas dispatched sdtitii and
the Japs from Mount. Tambu to tjouclvievv Junction southeast and made contact with the Japs, estimated to
and this type of action continued for' a week. be about fatty in number. A phudon of Company B
An Australian sergermt irr charge of native* workers • set our to ovefiake the enemy. The japs, eitfrei _bv • in-
reported on (he morning of 12 .August, that one of tent or thnyugh uni'amtlunty with the terrain, had
iKNHILC
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SEVENTY-SIX DAYS OF COMBAT
59
swung to the southwest, then to the top of Bitoi Ridge
and on toward Lake Salus. Another group joined the
Company B platoon and the two forces moved to the
west shore of the lake. For five days nothing more
was heard from this group but on 18 August fifteen
men reported back to Boisi and told about the fight
against an estimated two hundred Japs on the north-
west shore of the lake. The Company B party am-
bushed the track, inflicting heavy casualties on the
enemy. On the night of 16-17 August the positions
were organized by Company B under Lieutenant Mes-
sec. These positions came under heavy counterattacks
and were completely encircled by the Japs, but the
Company B party fought its way out in two directions
with only one man being wounded. The party reported
into Nassau Beach, completely exhausted, having been
without food for two days and being very footsore
from the long arduous march. Its action, however,
had broken up a suicide attempt to knock out artillery
positions from Lake Salus to the north.
Harassing fire continued on Mount Tambu. Late in
the afternoon of 18 August a patrol on the east slope
worked its way to the crest and found that a partial
evacuation had been made. The next morning Com-
panies A and B moved into position to exploit this
avenue of approach, and one platoon reached the crest
by midmorning without opposition. A few remaining
enemy stragglers were wiped out. After four long weeks
of artillery and mortar pounding and three direct as-
saults Mount Tambu was at last in Allied hands.
Jap positions were found, in many instances, to be
ten feet underground with a complete system of tun-
nels and connecting trenches. At least a full battalion,
with virtually perfect organization underground, had
occupied the position. Artillery and mortar fire had
done little damage to the position but apparently had
broken the morale of the garrison. With the capture
of Mount Tambu, the 1st Battalion was ordered to
rejoin the l62d Regiment. Despite the fact this meant
movement over extremely rough terrain it was wel-
comed by all because it meant a return to normal com-
mand and supply and the possibility of a change in
diet. After seven weeks of fighting side by side with
the Australians the two parted company with equal
admiration for one another’s ability as fighting men.
On the evening of 20 August some men of Company D
tripped a Jap booby trap near their bivouac area and
eight men were wounded. This was the first booby trap
encountered and was to be the only one found during
the campaign.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Chapter 7: A Nickname Well Earned
A FTER THE 1st Battalion of the I62d Infantry
/j\ had secured the Nassau Bay area and had
jljI. moved inland for the fight on Bitoi Ridge and
Mount Tambu, the 3d Battalion, under the command
of colorful, intrepid Major (later Lieutenant Colonel)
Archie Roosevelt, son of the late President Theodore
Roosevelt, came ashore on 6 July. This unit set up
defenses on the Nassau beachhead and patrolled north
of Salus Inlet. Patrolling activities continued for about
two weeks but only light contacts were made with
the enemy. Part of Company I hand-carried supplies
to the 1st Battalion on Bitoi Ridge when the supply
problem was critical there.
Around 14 June the 3d Battalion was designated as
part of the Coane Force, along with the 2d Battalion
and elements of the 205th and 218th Field Artillery
Battalions, under the command of the 4lst Division
Artillery commander, General Coane. Plans were made
for the move north towards Salamaua. These called
for Company I, with one section of heavy machine
guns, to move to the high ground overlooking Tambu
Bay from the west. Company L, with a section of
machine guns and 81mm mortars, was to occupy an
open spot on the high ground southwest of Tambu
Bay. It was to be joined later by Company K.
Companies I and L moved out on the morning of
18 July. Information regarding a secret trail which
was supposed to allow Company I to reach its ob-
jective by late afternoon was erroneous, and due to
the rugged terrain encountered two days were required
for the march. At the end of the first day, rations were
almost gone, many men’s shoes were unserviceable and
the company was a day’s march from its objective.
Company K set out via a back trail on 20 July and
knocked out some light opposition, reaching Boisi
Village late in the afternoon. The advance elements
had passed through the village when the Japs opened
fire with heavy mortars and artillery from Roosevelt
Ridge, a peak named for the commander of the 3d
Battalion. Despite the heavy fire, quick action on the
part of the company commander, who was himself
wounded, prevented excessive casualties. American artil-
lery was brought into play and silenced the enemy guns.
Company K then reorganized and dug in south of the
village. At 1500, Companies I and L moved into
Tambu Bay. Although they were worn out from two
days of forced marching, they reached the swamp south
of Boisi by 2100.
The battalion caught hell getting into Tambu Bay.
The Japs, strongly entrenched on Roosevelt Ridge,
threw everything at the advancing Sunsetters while
other Jap forces on towering Scout Track Ridge, to the
left of the battalion, raked them with withering en-
filade fire. Despite this heavy enemy resistance, and
with the aid of their own artillery, the men of the 3d
Battalion edged slowly ahead and established a com-
mand post at the base of Roosevelt Ridge, while a
part of the force tried to drive the Nips off Scout
Track Ridge, thus ending the menacing enfilade fire.
The initial attack on Roosevelt Ridge got under way
early on 22 July when Companies K and L assaulted,
with Company I in reserve. The sides of the ridge
proved to be too steep for climbing, forcing the men
to ascend hand over hand. As they neared the top
■ the Japs rolled down grenades and, in some cases,
mortar shells on them, supplementing these with heavy
rifle and automatic-weapons fire from well dug, cleverly
concealed positions.
The following day Company I moved atop Scout
Track Ridge and reconnoitered the area. For purposes
of clarification it can be stated here that later develop-
ments proved that there was no junction between Scout
Track Ridge and Roosevelt Ridge, although this was
not established until after the capture of the latter.
It also was discovered that Scout Hill and Mount
Tambu had no connecting ridge but were separated
south of Roosevelt Ridge by deep canyons, despite
photo and map interpretations which indicated con-
nections.
During the next few days Company L established a
perimeter due east of Boisi on Scout Track Ridge while
one platoon moved south toward Mount Tambu. This
platoon routed a Jap combat patrol but soon was halted
by a superior force, well deployed across the trail.
Forward elements of Company I, in the meantime,
moved north along Scout Track Ridge and after a
200-yard advance drew strong resistance from a well
dug-in Jap position, which contained, among other
weapons, a 70mm howitzer that proved to be quite
effective against Allied artillery.
While the 1st Battalion was reducing Bitoi Ridge
and moving into Mount Tambu for the showdown
fight, the 3d Battalion was butting against the stub-
born Roosevelt Ridge emplacement. From 30 July to
13 August several assaults had been made against this
stronghold but each was repelled. Help was needed
and the 2d Battalion of the l62d Infantry, which was
at Morobe, far down the coast, was committed to the
fight. When the 3d Battalion left Morobe for Nassau
Bay, it was the 2d Battalion which had taken over
the former’s installations.
At dawn on 16 July, Company G had landed on
Lababia Island, a half mile off shore from the mouth
of the Bitoi River. While this landing was taking
place the remainder of the battalion moved into Nassau
Bay, and Company F moved north along the beach as
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PubJi
A dooghbo# yiruggfes ticrbts a twitlrvnftrng jungle river into Japanese territory in the Solatnaop ar*c 'm and Australian! advance on
the north shore of Now Guinea
Coarii Force reserve. It arrived at Thimbu Ray on. 21 on the ridge but the japs merely pulled back into them
July holes. When the lire Idled -and our troops began to
When it moved into the Turohu Bay area. the 3d move up the steep -slopes, a signal, usually a bugle
Battalion met such slid resistance, and rugged terrain call, sounded, and the enemy poured out to mm fits
over so, extensive an area that (Sonera! Puller gave guns ah.cb^pfetw^tits. Attack after attack by the
orders to mournt the jernamder of the 2d BatUlbn. 3d Battalion had been stayed oft in this manner So
commanded by Major Arthur Lowe, later by Major heavy was this (be that some spots on the ridge were
Arrnin togrr The 2d Battalion moved into the blasted virtually. bare of vegetation;
TambUVBay sector aboard landing craft at night and On 28 July Company L gamed a firm hold on a
completed the move by 29 July, An Austrdttn unit small side ridge slightly bdow the crest of Roosevelt
took over the defenses of the Nassau, Bay area. Ridge, ibis being gained Only after severe fighting.
Now the infantry had two huHaiions-— at least in highlighted by excellent aOtHery support and aggres*
liililic ft nipt m number — ready to assault Roosevelt. save leadership, This unit beat off several counter-
Ridge, the extremely rugged featuYr. with very steep, attacks and. was subjected to sniping and mortar fire
h^rvil^ wooded slopes. This ridge protected the notify but cicajig to the ground which it had
&ti) seetbu of Tinian B&>\, wire re it ro$e from the sea gained. SgVgnd Gtli^ks were pressed agumse the crest
arid extended Avesiwaxd some eighteen hundred yards, but again the outcome was otter failure.
Here » appeared to make, a junction with Scout Track After some hard fight/fug Company G, which had
RGcw although this was later disproved. rejoined the 2d Battalion;. Mahhibed a Combat outpost
jTwr> artillery battalions 'were m -.position, and ire* on Roosevelt Ridge on 12 August and now was in
quern heavy artillery and mortar she! bugs were placed position to .support the 2d Battalion attack the follow-
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A NICKNAME WELL EARNED
63
ing day. Company F made the main assault on the
left, attacking the known enemy positions, while Com-
pany E pulled a diversionary movement toward the
next high ground to the east. Artillery fire protected
the flanks. Shortly after the battle started the men
manning the Company G outpost attacked the enemy
in front of Company F and assisted the latter in gain-
ing its objective.
The fight continued throughout the afternoon and
night of the 13th, and as darkness fell over the shat-
tered battiefront on the night of the 14th the enemy
lines had been breached in two places. The l62d
Infantry had gained the top of the ridge and cleaned
it off to the shoulder of its junction with Lokanu
Ridge. This firmly entrenched the Sunsetters on the
seaward end of the ridge.
The day for the attack on Roosevelt Ridge was
a brilliantly clear one. Task Force Headquarters was
crowded with officers, men and war correspondents.
Though the imminent show was classified top secret,
word was passing down through the ranks that some-
thing out of the ordinary was stewing. Any observant
person walking along the beach that morning could
see that the antiaircraft guns were being turned inland
towards the ridge, leveled for ground firing, checked
and oiled. Ammunition was being piled and covered
in preparation for H-hour. Men were lining up the
sights of the Bofors guns on that dark, mysterious ridge,
where for weeks the infantry had gallantly tried to rout
the deeply entrenched enemy along the commanding
crests. All of the guns at the disposal of the commander
of Royal Artillery were ordered to turn their far distant
barrels toward Roosevelt Ridge. There was a thrilling,
ominous feeling in that order. Gunners were quickly
laying their pieces on a target which was miles away,
in some cases beyond their sight and immediate knowl-
edge. All morning long the preparations continued.
Fire-direction centers checked and rechecked figures
and computations. All morning switchboards buzzed
with traffic, radios monitored and sent and relayed and
received. By noon the newsmen were downing hasty
lunches and leaving for the beach, Tambu Bay, Boisi
Village, all of which served as grandstand seats for
the whole tragic business. At about 1315 the jungles
north, south and west of Roosevelt Ridge shook and
shivered to the sustained blast. The mountains and
ridges threw the echo back and forth, down and out,
and the quiet whitecapped sea to the east, ringing the
outer third of Roosevelt Ridge, grew dark as it re-
ceived the eruption of earth and steel on that stricken
shoulder of land. Scores of guns — 75mm howitzers,
Aussie 25-pounders, 20mms, Bofors, light and heavy
machine guns, even small arms — had opened up simul-
taneously on the enemy-held ridge. A score of more
Allied fighters and bombers had swooped low to strafe
its dome and tons of bombs released from the B-24s
and B-25s fell straight and true, to detonate, shatter,
rip and tear and to deliver certain death at that mo-
ment on an August afternoon. Those who watched
from the beach saw the top fourth of the ridge lift
perceptibly into the air and then fall into the waiting
sea. In a scant twenty minutes all that remained of
the objective was a denuded, redly scarred hill over
which infantrymen already were clambering, destroy-
ing what remained of a battered and stunned enemy.
Following the fall of Roosevelt Ridge the l62d In-
fantry was faced with a series of ridges on Dot Inlet,
just north of Tambu Bay. This bay was surrounded on
three sides by ridges — Roosevelt to the south and south-
west, Scout Track Ridge on the west, and Lokanu on
the north. Extending toward the sea from Scout Track
Ridge, and running generally parallel to Roosevelt
Ridge, were five ridges designated as A, B, C, D and
Lokanu or E Ridge.
By this time the 1st Battalion, commanded by Lieu-
tenant Colonel Harold Taylor, had been released from
Australian operational control and reverted to regi-
mental control. This marked the first time that the
l62d Infantry had fought as a unit. The 1st and 3d
Battalions began the job of cleaning up Scout Track
Ridge. Companies A and B swung to the west in an
envelopment. Almost immediately Company B ran
into well organized positions on the northwest ridge
of Bald Hill, so named because of its complete devas-
tation from artillery and mortar fire. Reconnaissance
showed that this position, which extended in front of
Companies I and L, was a deep coverage of supply
lines to the main ridge position. Company A made
a wide envelopment to the north, cut further supply
lines and succeeded in gaining a position astride the
main Jap supply trail for the entire south Scout Track
Ridge sector. This pinch put the Japs in dire distress,
a fact which became even more evident on the night
of 30 August. Company A patrols had maintained
ambushes for three days but on this date a large force
of Japs completely surrounded the Company A posi-
tion, cut telephone wires and assaulted in nine waves.
The fire was terrific but the 84-man garrison stalled
off one wave after another; the Nips lost 159 men and
suffered heavy casualties while Company A had four
men killed and a similar number wounded. The supply
of hand grenades and tommy-gun ammunition had
been depleted and efforts to supply this position failed
for two days because the steep ascent was raked with
deadly machine-gun fire. To make the supply of hand
grenades stretch as far as possible the men heaved
mud balls when they heard a noise in the jungle. If
the noise continued, the conclusion was that it was
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
fta 2QStti tfrfd 'Artttliif-btftnUen w** tr<Kt<?t* to pul! a Sctarx aa gv« u*> a
road >o >ht iop at 6i<Jg*.
being m&de by an animal However, if the. noise received by the regiment since »t$ ir rival m New
stopped when the mud tell fed then if was pretty Guinea Normal attrition, casual ties* disease, and neu-
cerfcam to be a lap and then a real .grenade was used, rosis brought on by tire very nature of the terrain over
A jmnm^ from the encircled company wormed his way which the men fought accounted for tremendous losses
hack to %£ other units with the story of his unjtN &od greatly reduced the force: With this situation ex-
phgh t. A withdrawal through organ ^ed enemy post- istmg a provisional battalion composed of the Antitank
tiorii was made without * casualty and was so success* Company, Cannon Company and the Regimental Band
hr] that even the wounded got out. Mortars, machine was formed and took up positions on Roosevelt Ridge
gUnCand >7mm gun* bred on the. position just cvacvi- to furnish flank anti beach security. Antitank Company
ared by Company A. had found no jap tanks to stop and the Cannon C-o'm-
Meanwhiie, Company B had hacked away at enemy puny. w hose normal weapon was the self-propelled
positions on the west of Bald Hill duul finally occupied 3 Q5mm gun, lacked these weapons and during this
the area, making contact with Ctamp^^l-L on top of trampaign fired Slmrn mortars. _
the ndge On the morning of 29 August .Company B When Company G was relieved on Lab.abh. Island
then covered the supply trail to Company A and Com* it moved to Dot inlet and set up a jx-nmeter at: the
pany C fell in the rear oif Ccvirvpaiiy depfefmg the base of Ridg& C and O, drear flulambdp. days
bamtlioh in a column. A ri%^by*.ndgc campaign was iater the remainder of the 2d Battalion moved imo
waged until Scout Track Hill .was taken on 9 Septem- the sector. The battalion plan was to out die enemvs
ben In patrolling Dot Inlet the 2d Battalion found line of wmmmimioti cm Scour Ridge at the point
that all ridges except C were thickly infested •with where Scout Track Ridge and Ridge C formed a iunc*
japs and that these enemy troops kept coming up from tion. Patrolling activities uncovered the fact that there
tokanu (or T) Ridge. was no junction. Ridge C came to a dead end, and
Manpower, always, a - major problem, by now- had wtrere -there -was supposed to he a junction there was
reached the* critical stage. No replacements had been fiothihg but heavy woods and jungle. Company P and
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A NICKNAME WELL EARNED
65
Company E, which had followed to give support and
cover the supply trail, set up a perimeter which ex-
tended down Ridge C.
About two hundred yards across a deep draw to the
right front was Berger Hill, while on the left was high
ground which first appeared to be the northwest end of
Ridge B, but was later found to be a separate hill.
Directly in front of these two companies was a deep
gorge which contained a Jap watering point.
An investigation of Berger Hill got underway early
on 26 August by a Company F patrol. This patrol
moved to the enemy water hole and had just left this
spot when it heard noises to the left rear in the direc-
tion of Scout Track Ridge and Ridge B. The patrol
took cover and waited. In a little while three Japs,
en route to the watering point, appeared. The patrol
killed two and wounded the third. However, it was
believed that the wounded man still was capable of
spreading the alarm, thereby tipping off the main body
of Japs that the patrol was approaching. The patrol
made a hasty reconnaissance and returned to the main
body before its presence was detected and the return
route cut off. Enemy emplacements had been spotted
on top of Berger Hill.
Later that day another patrol from Company F en-
countered a party of Japs in the vicinity of the water
hole and got into a skirmish. Many casualties were
inflicted on the enemy but he retaliated with extensive
grenade fire and the patrol had to withdraw. Patrol-
ling activities continued through 29 August with much
effective sniping being done by the Americans.
By 29 August, Company L was able to move north
from a position which had been static since 24 July.
This was made possible by the envelopment of Ridge
C on the north and east by the 2d Battalion. Company
L moved northeast and made contact with Company I
the following day. This move forced another enemy
withdrawal, again somewhat influenced by 2d Battalion
pressure on Ridge C and an attack on Ridge D by a
company of the Australian 15th Infantry Battalion.
The enemy now occupied positions immediately in
front of the 2d Battalion and still held Berger Hill.
The 2d and 3d Battalions now began the reduction
of the enemy concentrated in a pocket between them
on Scout Track Ridge. Company A tried to circle in
order to contact the 2d Battalion but failed when it
was attacked. Plans now called for the 3d Battalion
to secure the ground to its front, this being to the left
front of the 2d Battalion. When this was accomplished
the 2d Battalion was to pivot to the right, take Berger
Hill then advance on Scout Track Ridge and secure
Scout Hill.
Company E, after being in contact with the enemy
for forty-four days, was driven from Berger Hill late
in the afternoon of 8 September. This marked the
last contact with the enemy until the conclusion of the
campaign in mid-September. The following day Com-
pany F occupied Berger Hill without opposition and
made contact with the Aussies on Scout Track Ridge.
The enemy withdrew from Lokanu (Ridge E), and it
was occupied by the Allies on 8-9 September. The
following day the 3d Battalion drove up the coast
toward the Francisco River, which bordered the Sala-
maua airport. The 2d Battalion went down Scout
Track Ridge while the 1st Battalion fell back into
regimental reserve.
The Japs were falling back but they were getting no
respite. The artillery and air force were giving Sala-
maua itself a terrific pasting. During the progress of
the campaign on 4 September, the Australian 7th and
9th Divisions had moved in, landed north of Lae and
pressed the fight into that important port. From the
ridges to the south the l62d Infantry troops could
observe the great sea movements. At about this time
the first United States paratroopers committed to action
in the Southwest Pacific area, landed in the Markham
Valley and began to push toward the seacoast. The
enemy was hemmed in from three sides and had his
back to the open sea. Troops of the l62d Regiment
plus some Aussies were pushing up from the south, the
Aussies were moving in at Lae on the north and the
paratroopers were striking from the west.
To the battle-hardened veterans of the 3d Battalion
was to fall the task of winding up the Salamaua cam-
paign. This unit, now under the command of Major
Jack E. Morris, moved all day of the 10th and got to
Logui Point on Bayern Bay the following day. The
movement was made so fast that the men carried every-
thing on their backs, across swamps, and through the
ocean when they were forced to wade around the
jutting points. They drove through one perimeter
after another, finding some unoccupied. Resistance
was negligible but much Jap equipment, including
artillery, was captured. Later it was learned the Japs
had left between eight hundred and one thousand
Imperial Marines to make a rear-guard action to cover
the escape of the main force.
The 3d Battalion pushed unrelentingly toward Sala-
maua. Vehicles could not follow the tortuous route
and it was decided to get to Salamaua first and depend
upon picking up supplies later. Guns, food and neces-
sary ammunition went forward on the backs of the
men. The command post at this time consisted of a
map in the battalion commander’s hip pocket.
On 11 September, orders were given to cross the
Francisco River and storm Salamaua. No one knew
what lay ahead but all expected to catch hell and a
fight to the finish since the fall of Salamaua would
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
(D
LO
tu-
rn
7W0Vmi&EH$
The AiJSSiti- ft6nx the north pobred into Salamaua on
the beds oisthe 1far|jk$ £Qxj the 2d Battalion followed
the 3d aaoss the river. . ; - • / . /
When die Japs had over run Saiamaua in their south-
ward match, in 1942 it ted been; a lovely place oh a
beautiful, land-kxfeed harbor. When they gave it up,
it was mfti#,- tatrfi'clden, pestdmtial hole. Rotting
eotpses sent up a vile $tencn and tats big as small
dogs roamed all over the place
The Saiamavia campaign froni - Nassau Bay through
Tambu Bay, Koosevejt Ridge and Scout Track Ridge
had taken seventy six days of fighting over as difficult
military, ittki# as the United States Army has ever
encountered: From start to finish there had been no
JeBujv day or night, id the heavy fighting, smalt skir-
mishes and patrolling. The i62d Infantry had received
\ti baptism of battle and moved, nearly Hvo hundred
miles from Sartiinanda ^omt tO Sa 1 afnaua. It had re
captured more ground for thr Allies than had any
other iorc;e since Pearl Harbor. The campaign from
beginning fry end was "a - paradiox^bf contradiction, coujir
terrnandmg COtnnland responsibility, inadequate sup-
plies ifiihjfi'CigOit personnel, When Company G
arrived at Tamfru with its 1 35 Aneo (norma) company
strength was: 196 officers and men) it was the Strongest
armpany in the 2d. >ind 3d Battalions About a week
before the final ass^ulf an Roosevelt Ridg& the 3d Bat-
talion was down to 426 officers and men, just about
half of* its normal strength. Companies I umd K at this
time had only 63 cdScerv ^nd men *knf Company K’s
strength; dropped ta 39 by 30 The only
replacements the regiment received %ttt its own
wounded anti skk who were restored fc? dtojty.. One
time 32 newly second ev
signify ..the. end of : the eastern New Guineii campaign; enlisted men from the 4isr and >2d Divis^ns, who had
Hc*\v ever, the vauiued Japanese determination to make won burs at the officer candidate school in Australia,
a death stand apparently weakened under the threat were brought in as replacements:
or the three- -pronged attack. Officers were choke, targets for the Japs and the
A .small group o.K officers and men. deciding to test casualties a mong commissioned personnel were high
what the Japs wouM otfei a? & lamuim, walked mto the The. Japs would let a hundred enteled men pass’ in
Francisco River Oh ii September and deliberately, order u> get a. shot at an officer. To get the utmost
although a pprefretetV ely* forded the stream. Nor u protection, officers wore no insignia of ?&nk-.and they
shot greeted This group as it waded through the water tried not to reveal their identity by •pointing., or using
and climbed out on the opposite bank, just cbe.pre- other, sure fire means of distinguishing themselves as
viouf day the Japs had been throwing out some heavy leaders or key personnel. However, just the opposite
artillery fire but now the guns were sdaip ■ 1% : J*pv was d»3ne by the enemy,. The jap officer; bate himself
had fled. The hi Battalion i(AnUwfeitc«y vrc*s$ecj the knportantly, strutted and usually carried- a .saber,
river arid Salamaua Vv^s .in Aniencun hands. Hoc had The. versatility of the artillery had been a big factor
been a dream of conquest on the .?Srh day of June I'M 5 throughout the enure New Guinea campaign It
and vva.s :nvc*biecrB/e gained on Sunday, 3 2 September .reined and fought well with all types of artillery
-—i^xatt l v seventy-sis days after f he initial landing, pieces The men .became so proficient in laying down
'•This became the longest siege ot Hiitamecl combaf in fire that sometimes the bunting shells' were. falling only
the Pacific area. Only one Jap pva> taken prisoner in. seventy dive yards in front of the advancing infantry-
this final push and only six throughout • the campaign, men
? rt ?p 1$ €ka>i*s ffuoaiw 0i>0fs o trim to General 'Fullmf ouUide the Division
. Commander's, ten\ during o fall in lht» Ughfing.
Tht Oughout the fight : the- toilifcxy played havoc
A NICKNAME WELL EARNED
Colonel William. £>.. Jackson. ■Divijston Artillery
executive officer, had gone into the Sitlamaua campaign
as Artillery tommander for t^h Force and
was later made commander of the Royal Artillery,
putting him iri charge of all Australian and American
artillery in the area. For Iwa fine job the Prime Minis-
ter of Australia awarded him the British .Distinguished
Service Order.
Morta r s played . an Out^h^dfhg role all during the
campaign. As the. long Hattie wort on the mortarmen
could lay 6()mrn mortar foe within twenty- five yards
of their own forces and H I nun fire within thirty five
yards The Japs y/cre proficient with mortars too and imprinted in the minds of the men ts Tambu Bay, the
caused many Allied casualties wnh this weapon, , inland jungle home at the base of the tortuous ridges
The Australians and Americans fought entirely dif- that lay between the Allied troops and their objective —
ferent campaigns.. When the’ Aussie in fonhymen SaJsmaua. Tambu was another irwlarfel stretch of
lacked immediate artillery support they would. >mrm htui s but at was land at least, and not swamp, k was
die enemy and fake the onjcctivc by sheer perseverance the second and most permanent bivouac and ir. nestled.
;»nd bravery. In one instance, twenty Japs in a- piljbo* ripe for the picking of enemy g w* and plains m a
took the lives ot two bundled ana fifty Australians valley around which the mouu tains shouldered,
before the Aussies reduced die* emplacemcm The And, lastly, the place which Will stand out foremo *t
Vd “ k *f.vte of fighting was to wait for the artillery to; hi foe minds of these men who made history m the
come up and let rh^ big guns blast the enemy positions bowels of New Guinea t*> Ridge,' an ot>-
as barren of all life as possible. It saved m any Amen- jective which once had been; 'forested and nearly-. u;r»-
cajl dives and got Ijcftef resiitts, although it took langec. passable bur now was denuded and made impotent
[n speaking >>.* fort Ameman style of fighting:, by A powerful combined artede of firt;urtrynu ; ri, ' anti-
Colonel Jackson $iM, ‘Power kilts more Japs faster,* aircraft fine, artillery fire riiid- && bombardment. • ir was
here that the , 4 ? sc Division troops had pounded against
vVhen men reminisce over the days of this campaign the jap. defenses for more than a month, arid finally
A mawbef '.-Of -ih* /for DivUlvt* pousat (d ng t-aougfr iac lfta cf
o shut#
68
THE JUNGLEERS
conversation, like all such retrospective conversations,
will start with one word — remember?
Remember the small-boats section that ran the tiny
outboards between Hines Beach and Nassau Bay, car-
rying messages, supplies, mail and men — men with
stars on their collars and men with one stripe or no
stripes at all on their sleeves, but equally important
men; men who were equally anxious to see the battle
ground and equally willing to return to the relative
complacency of Nassau and other points farther south ?
Remember the day when the men crowded beneath
the trees along the shore all the way from Tambu to
Hines to Nassau to watch the B-24s and B-25s and the
P-38s bomb and strafe the already lengendary Roose-
velt Ridge and beyond the ridge the eventual prize,
Salamaua ?
Remember that early morning when Battery B of
the 205th FA Battalion exhausted its ammunition and
how a human train was formed from the dumps at
Salus Lake, two miles south, up to the mouths of the
hungry guns?
Remember the C rations, bully beef, the Fleetwood
cigarettes, pup-tent living conditions, the rain, the brave,
tireless, worthy, black native boys who carried supplies
and wounded? Remember Mount Tambu, Mubo, Boisi
Village, the Komiatum Track, Dot Inlet, the Francisco
River and Salamaua, that long, slim, cigar-shaped
peninsula that stretched out into the blue ocean, the
peninsula for whose domination men fought, sweat,
bled, cursed and died?
Yes, these and many others will be remembered now
that the veterans are back in the quiet and security of
their own homes, which are secure only because of
fights such as those at Salamaua.
Until this time men of the 4 1st always had been
tagged with the nickname of the Sunset Division. But
in the press releases coming from the very heart of
New Guinea came more and more frequent dispatches
referring to this Northwest aggregation as the "Jun-
gieers” or "MacArthur’s Jungieers.” This nickname
stuck and always is a reminder of those early days
when each bit of offensive action in those heretofore
little-known, stinking hell holes brought much en-
couragement to a victory-hungry American people.
General MacArthur was generous in his praise of
the gallant l62d Infantry, and in special orders of the
day, directed to both American and Australian troops,
Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring, in command
of the New Guinea Force which directed the campaign,
said:
"The capture of Salamaua marks the end of a cam-
paign of seven months duration. It has been a cam-
paign of very great importance to the Allied cause in
the Southwest Pacific. You have all done a magnifi-
cent job, have out-fought the Japs and have triumphed
in spite of the difficult terrain and trying conditions.”
During this period the men of the 4 1st Division had
learned many things about themselves and the enemy.
And people throughout the world began realizing too
that American soldiers could outshoot and outfight the
Jap and beat him at his own game. A Jap, coming face
to face with an American, hesitated for a brief fatal
second, standing with his mouth open. But instinctively
the Yank pressed his trigger. It was difficult to catch
the Jap off guard, however. He was a master of
camouflage and sometimes the American would be
within ten feet of his wary enemy before he saw him.
The Japs either were completely offensive-minded, or
completely defensive-minded, seldom both. Kicked out
of a place, he sometimes would attack the American
perimeter as many as five times in a night. Jap ma-
chine gunners rarely traversed or searched a target with
their guns but froze to them, shooting straight ahead,
oblivious to everything else. American soldiers some-
times stole up on a Jap machine gunner who had his
eyes closed and finger clenched on the trigger of his
chattering weapon.
American troops displayed a sense of humor which
the Japs lacked. Jumping off on an attack the Jungieers
called the no-man’s land between their own perimeter
and that of the enemy, "the last mile.” At Salamaua
the Nips constantly harassed the l62d with a 6-inch
naval gun whose projectile sounded like a wagon when
it went over. The men promptly tagged this gun,
"Gurgling Gertie.” Another one was "Whizbang Joe.”
A sergeant, supervising the loading of ammunition
while the dump was being bombed by the enemy,
somewhat relieved the tension at the moment when
he yelled to the men: "Come on, you lugs, get that
ammunition moved and in fifteen days we’ll be in the
calaboose for being drunk on Broadway.”
When Company L came down out of the hills the
men found a small creek, the first water for bathing
they had seen in forty-five days of combat. They
literally plunked down in it and reveled in their luxury
for several hours.
Wounded men seldom, if ever, complained or felt
sorry for themselves during the campaign. Sometimes
as many as twenty men were required to get a litter
down from the hills. For that reason a man had to be
pretty badly hurt to be classed as a casualty. Officers
told of seeing men walk for a mile, with wounds in
both legs, in order to get to an aid station.
After Salamaua had fallen into Allied hands the
l62d Infantry went into reserve with the Australian
5th Division and took up patrolling and mopping-up
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A NICKNAME WELL EARNED
69
activities. Meanwhile the enemy was doing his utmost
to break up the Aussie assault on Lae, and Nip planes
were over the Salamaua area daily, making the troops
seek the shelter of their foxholes.
On 19 September each battalion held memorial serv-
ices for its dead. The bodies had been brought out
of the hills and laid to rest in an American cemetery
established under the palm trees close by the beach at
Salamaua. On this occasion Major Morris made an
address to his 3d Battalion which was typical of the
thoughts and attitudes of the American soldier. He
said:
There is no place for sentimentality in the Army — especially
an army at war. World-shaking events are daily occurring and
on this stage we are playing our small part. The role we have
recently completed has been filled with many unpleasantnesses
and privations that are better left undiscussed. A soldier’s
life, especially in time of war, is a hard one. Ours is a
dangerous profession. Those dangers are accepted without
question by the soldier and he follows through on his job
with little thought for his personal sacrifices, which must
necessarily be taken for granted. Men fall on the field of
battle never to rise again — and upon their passing we dare
not pause to dwell — there is still a war to be won and a job
to be done.
A soldier can neither afford nor has the time to dwell in
retrospect upon the saddening events that, unfortunate as
they may be, necessarily are incident to combat. We are not
gathered here to mourn our dead. Crepe-hanging amongst
fighting men is as dangerous as enemy bullets. Rather, let us
think of being assembled here for the purpose of paying
tribute to a group of gallant comrades, who, when the blue
chips were down, gave their last full measure of devotion.
In life, as well as in death, these men were truly great. In
memory their stature will continue to grow. Such deeds and
such men are never forgotten. No one can foretell what lies
ahead of us. But some day this will all be over and we will
be able to relax. Even then I know that the memory of these
men to whom we pay homage today will not have dimmed —
and somewhere in a comer of our hearts and minds they will
be beside us and take their places in line when the topkick
steps out in the company street and yells “Fall in!”
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Chapter 8: Back to Australia
W HILE THE l62d Infantry was carrying on
the fight at Salamaua other units of the 4lst
Division returned to Australia. In the second
week of July, the 163d Infantry, first of the 4 1st Divi-
sion units to go to New Guinea, began the move back
to the Land Down Under. Returning as it came, it
was flown to Port Moresby and shipped from there
by boat.
Next went the 186th Regiment, under the command
of Colonel Oliver P. Newman. This outfit moved from
Cape Endaiadere on LCTs and LSTs to Milne Bay,
where the regiment’s 2d Battalion remained as a de-
fense force for Sixth Army Headquarters. The re-
mainder of the regiment was loaded on two Dutch
merchantmen and went "home” to Rockhampton.
There the units plunged once again into intensive train-
ing, advancing under actual fire of artillery and
mortars.
Salamaua fell to the Allied troops on 12 September
1943, and the usual activities of souvenir-hunting,
reading and answering mail occupied the troops of the
l62d Infantry until 25 September when they loaded
on LCTs for the return trip to Australia. Loading was
carried out shortly after midnight because of the danger
of Jap air attack. By afternoon the boats had reached
Oro Bay. Some of the men were down to their shorts,
while many of them wore an ill-fitting assortment of
Jap sailor and marine uniforms which had been taken
from the captured dumps at Salamaua. Long-legged
Yanks were ludicrous in the Jap pants that hung mid-
way between the ankle and knee.
A military band serenaded the victorious jungle
veterans at Oro Bay and they thoroughly enjoyed it.
They received new clothing and spent several days
doing nothing but bathing, eating and general clean-
ing up. More stacks of mail were waiting at Oro Bay.
Some men picked up half a year’s supply of magazines
and newspapers, because only the first-class mail had
followed them to the combat areas. Generally speak-
ing, the mail service had been pretty good. First-class
mail was fairly prompt while the second, third and
fourth classes were slower; however, no one expected
the postman to visit him every day in the combat zone.
Combat troops had first priority on delivery of mail.
Letter-writing had been almost as difficult as receiving
letters. Most of the supply of writing paper had long
since been depleted and the men resorted to using some
captured Jap paper and even went so far as to use
toilet tissue.
On 28 September the l62d Infantry boarded the
Sea Snipe, a former German ship which was converted
to a transport, and began the last leg of the journey
to Australia to rejoin the remainder of the Division.
70
On the way back there was one enemy submarine scare.
Most of the return trip was spent in letter writing and
"jawbone” poker. There had been no pay for six
months.
In the afternoon of 3 October the task force reached
Gladstone, disembarked the following morning, and
proceeded to Rockhampton by troop train. Artillery
and other units were on the way back and by 30 Octo-
ber the entire Division had reassembled at Rockhamp-
ton. Once again it meant good, bounteous food, dry
clothes, showers, recreation, ranges, training and all
those things of which the men had been deprived.
Best news of all was the announcement that seven-day
furloughs, plus travel time, would be granted, these
being the first since that fifteen-day furlough way back
in the autumn of 1941, just before the war had become
a real and living part of each man’s life. These fur-
loughs enabled some to return to Melbourne and Syd-
ney while others tried new jaunts out to the west. A
few men even made it to Tasmania, the isle of choco-
lates and apples. Bundaberg, a little town in southern
Queensland, with its tree-lined main streets, became a
favorite rendezvous for the men because it resembled
so many country towns back home.
But Rockhampton and Australia were not to be just
rest camps and recreation centers. They were again
busy training centers. The 4lst had learned many
valuable lessons. Its soldiers were the veterans, the
jungleers, the heroes of Sanananda and Salamaua, and
these men were to serve as models for new combat
units arriving in the Southwest Pacific. But the Divi-
sion had to start training all over again for the cam-
paigns which were to come. As Sanananda had ended
the Papuan campaign, so had Salamaua ended the East-
ern New Guinea campaign. But the Japs still were at
Wewak, Aitape, Hollandia, Wakde and Biak and they
had to be cleaned out before New Guinea could be
cleared.
During this stay in Australia the 4 1st Division Band
organized a male chorus known as the "Men of the
4 1st.” This group made several recordings in Brisbane
with the Australian Broadcast Commission and on
Christmas Eve, 1943, was featured on a national
hookup program. To further facilitate recreation, a
platoon from the Sixth Special Service was attached to
the Division during its second sojourn in Rockhampton.
When the war started and the Jungleers were at
Fort Lewis, all identification had been removed from
uniforms. Now this ban was lifted by the War Depart-
ment and the familar red-gold-and-blue shoulder patch
again appeared on the uniforms of the Sunset men.
The old patches had been left at home but new ones
were supplied by the Australians. These were not
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
BACK TO AUSTRALIA
. .IWW W Qfl^n. and-.m*» cf,*h* HU infa.tr, hoar an East's Sunday program
he gut parcels zs -tmi as they arrived, at the, u<b "Portabt* Hospital at tfcrob*.
•vision was on alert and in the event
ypartur* it would' be impossible to carry Headquarters devised new and more improvident
they hung the colored bits of wrapping measures to nurse along the ailing howitzers and ve-
a hr. ut their camps. Christmas religious hides at motor stables. Camps were built , and • spit*
:ood attendance. 1 aud-pofch became the order of the day,
s'- :rtcs m the Pacific were beginning, to Talk of further amphibious tiffining at Toorbul
Yet from where the men of the Sunset ^oint materialised into the actual thing and one by
, the war in iate 1943 took on the ap one the regiments trekked to that, unlovely* spot to
in# an endless proposition undergo training supervised by the U.S. Navy which
Headquarters- devised a malaria rest employed the latest type of binding craft
i a short time became known/ not m>$- A bit of good /toms just in the. offing. Early irt
onilenrhe as the 'fox ban." 1 Corps 2'cbruarv of 1 9* H the W-ar Department announced its
I whiplash of inspections while Division foivg -diseased, ;mxi»HwIy-a waited* muciedreamed-about:
mumped owed : pi 0 l^ 3 ^^j.ied , /training. Jowm totatfi m program which provided for the return of
ers of rhe men and Division Artillery veterans from, rive combat area. Men who had been
■overseas eighteen months were to be eligible for return
ygjMMMgjg <*nd those Who had six months or more in forward
* *- ; ueas> r vvere to have the highest priority, it was April
the men of the first month's si ini quota ".reached
•• VvsbvVvS^^ •••'•' :•:. m '.'i Mi ’ Tort Lewis, from where they were sent home on fur
••'l v/'- f •* ?*; i oug h . an d then 'reassigned - to • other duties. Numerous
mcr- and officers of the Drvfoon had. by this time, been
. y.: ;-; . ev,h.nafcd the -Southwest Pacific because of
.;d%*;Y . vV'.v s *'-y^ v omuls j;ki disease vmd had been returned to the
kfriited fargep^pixtkucgbitig ro Army bos-
h . . , r p^Ss *» Hk.v Norfhcveskatv. States. Others -had been
. ' •'* y ' funster a;d out of the Division to new assignments in
^ die Southwest Pacific, principally in Austral ho and
,;; - ; v there had been a considerable shuffling because of cas-
~ ' V ' v uaJties, promotions • and -other reasons, within th-e van-
Tha t last Stay of 'six months ih .^iistratfe was memo-
rable for many reasons, but the most cogent of these
Qi>f of combat and on their way to An iUntla, thise 4ls1 Division troops
arf*nd Sunday morning rnligiaus jtewce, on thnir ship ,
i
y< i-'m
THE iUNfeLtEKS
remained a dark secret The Tlth Infantry Division
had preceded the advance • echelons of the 4i>t out of
Gladstone and many were speculating thijt the ne#t:
operation WtfuJd -utilise' two full possibly
fuocU<min£ under Coip^ direction. However, no one
Cuncuoximij under Cmp^ diteetion,
really knew-. c-v/; . ,
If was a gt&y, d r i &d i ngta te a t tembou when the men
boarded the ship in .(pBadstfotfe harbor. H<> bands or
crowds wc re on hart d t& Wiih them godspeed as they
trudged itt endless lines . up the gangplanks, . The Divi-
sion, as an organisation , never woo Id i eturn to hos-
pitable Australia, b^t 4&e rtw did mK know that.
Many dimly imagined that /for. time immemorial th%
would go trudging; oft to war in the hellish jungles Of
the Sooth Fat^Sc and, when the fighting was finfeh^d,
would return to friendly Rockhampton for respire and
trairtingv to renew old acqnainrances, to drink ale and
bitters* ,tn r : iivthe mcs>mparable surfs and to dance
and make love, fdight fell on Gladstone Harbor,
anchors were weighed, chow iittes began ft? form in
hltrieate patt^rns on dtfc tfeclcs and aitfidst the myriad
blmking fights evdwiging messages from ship to
Ifandia and Bfak were -shore, the ships slipped" out to sea •and -.Australia began
’ -Ust in those days but to slip, irrevr.cahly behind to become one of the lew
tJic Admiralties pointed pleasant memories' associated with the war. Each man
pan,: Morofai and the m his heart, each in his fear and depression, began to
on the march' ' to , . unagisie . anti ••■ see. e>nce more the awful mwsrrsal image
T ly-14 the training at of New Guinea rising from the. dark sea.
ampton, ^.ssumed 4 new On ^ cloiu dJ ess morning two weeks after- the
:mr, rrn high, tumors- departure imm. Gladstone, the troops sighted Fifisch-
exception -of those men hafen.:. The place was a typical staging area. The
Helmet* ware uioed primorily ior prof&ctiy^ pvrpase^ but bare a ioldief
trf tbm 4Tst Oivixia** shows onafher use for them,
Swopftod fariu reveal ib* manner in which then r men earn* /«*p possession
of ibe Jap fiog and sober, p?ixe iaurenhi
harbor was filled with Liberty ships and landing Craft t
the Chores were lined w Ith semiperma nent rent (.amps,
shotexontfol installations, add supply depots; and the
hills beyQinl th^beaefi were alive, with bulldozers put-
ting through the v real chairtwork of roads w necessary
to the operation of all sue h bases. Sixth Army Head
quarters '-'was established -there and the place was
swarrning wirh thousands of troops. The men were
ashore by noon and were loaded m tmtks and Buffaloes
which started almost at once up the steep, raw roads
that led to the Division bivouac area at Cape Cretin,
A tremendous, sprawling tent camp was waiting and
bags of mail* virtually mountains of it, were distributed
that first night. Men were tired after the hectrt day of
activity. Moving from ship to shore was always one of
those periods when a man acted automatically, accom-
plished the job v/mhour recourse to thinking or ntjm-
&U?ing. With a supper of C rations under then belts,
cots and mosquito nets up and wailing, and wjtb letters
from home waiting to be read and reread, the men
settled down to unaccustomed quiet early that night.
The entire Division, had closed in at Ghscbhafen by
23 March. After being there a week General fuller
gave hA oificers an idea of how the forthcoming opera-
tion had. been planned But it was not until the first
part of April that they were to learn the details of
what was going to prove to be % ve£% uti usual p ieoe of
strategy.
The Allied forces had been making short jumps
along the ISfew Guinea coast in pursuit Of the retreat-
ing Japs and, since this policy had been successfub
"although somewhat slow, it was reasonably certain that
tins method again would be employed when the next
mpve was made from Fiiisohha/en. With t|i)$ in mind*
Wewak loomed as the hm logical target because 'it
was the next important step along the New Guinea
coast after Fin.scbhiden. The japs had developed
Wewak into a base of tremendous mi{x>rta:nce. To tend
support to the theory that Wewak xvould next feel the
(Men.-of the 4P*t Omticn filing into it. Pouf'* Cathedral in Rockhampton
Ja dttrpd &rvicei for member* of. 'in the New Guinea
^amparpn (Henry Manger photaJ. . . .. * , r .
brum of an Allied assauft v there were repeated pound-
ings of this base bv Allied planes, *
But thts was only a smoke Screen because General
M^cArthur had a Surpmefor the Japs, Wtewalc was to
be bypassed and Holiaodii was to be the next objective.
'When that was taken the Japs on Wewak would he
teftdo '$rarv*£ a method a little slowed tltep
shooting, but much less costly m terms of American
lives,
Holbmdla lies about 4P0 rniles from linsth-
ha fen, but the route to be taken by the 4 1st Division
was to be about eight hundred fifty mites. taking n far
ncuth and east ot finschhafen, toward the Admiralty
Islands, and then south toward Hollands. This, was
done to prevent lecmma fssgnce by jap land-based
planes. It wd$ the longest Amphibious movement of
combat troops m the war up to that time. Those in
the know spmdated that if the Hollandia invasion
we re a 'my;css it would shorten the w ar Against Japan,
by as much as six months.
The preparatory wheels of attack and advance begun
to turn late in March, The 163d Infantry, supported
by the 167th Field Artillery and elements of the 32d
Division, w as designated Persecution Task Force under
the command of General Doe. The remainder of the
4 1st Division fh£ Tkifth and ^f) Infantry
Regiments and the 146th. 205th arid ,218th Field Artijl
! under the Coihfd.Htid of General Cqane*
was designated iettprpte^s Task Force, one of two
task form comprising the Reckless Task, Force; . Add*
mg to thk fire power of tfe.^ttdfery'A hdWijteers yvere
the 12'inch, ibemigai mortars of the 644 st Tank De
Wlth time on theit frdndt, men of the JUf DMlion play cordt aboard thipi
Pubtii
A battery of t05mm howitzeu, mounted on the deck of an t£T, *r/ th'eit accuracy during f a training period. \Gilbert Isaacs photo).
trover Battalion (later designated the 98th Chemical Be. humors had grown so fantastic that orders were
Weapons Battalion) , i Corps Headquarters coordin- t^ued making further speculation punishable by CQurt-
ated the preparations. martial, but this served only to increase the talk of the
It' Became, evident almost at once that the pending would-be strategists Results of the practice landing
•QpeWffon to be a prodigmiis one and proved the mept$e$£ ihd bemnd to exist
'.secreq ? of the plans was of major concern to those m among uninformed troops oifd shortly thereafter key
charge..' Officers .who flew from Australia m tinsih- personnel were -briefed on the plans for the attack,
hafen ahead of the main body of troops Were busy wide h found the A ist Division assaulting Aitape and
at work on preliminary tactical and logistical phases Ho 1 1 and i a
of the program-; By 7 April the plans Were advanced. I ven the japs were to help make the Hollandia mis-
far enough to permit a prat rice landing, this bemg sioo successful. Apparently they were convinced that
staged. i>n a beach twelve mites north ot Lae where the the Allies would continue a step-by-itep campaign
terrain approximated that of the target area.- Even at . t j, >n g the: coast of New* Guinea, which would put
the time of f he dress rehearsal a great portion of the \\?ewak next m the list. In jme with this reasonhig,
troops were '.Unaware- of what the next objective -'would • ' the Japs began concentrating their forces on AVewak:
^ ^the assault. Some of rhese
^ ' annaiu rati ar,d. other miits that gcynivc rnnkmg up a
tops provided escort anJ -protection. .Rear Admiral
Daniel Barbey wii in command-' of the convoy.
As far as the eye could see the force stretc lied- out
If was paiticularly. impressive, to the the dish,
since back in the du^ ^f -Bu pa'' and Salamaua a force
The tedious task of administration mgjf 90 or? hfe r * The 0*3 Section
aitriet on in New Guinea
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Members of .4) it THvitton oro briefed for the inversion HoUandia.
of. tweqi? thirty LCfs had Men enough to constitute huge battlewagons skirted the very edge of the force,
a hiige .convoy These men were to participate in their Troop carriers wallowed serenely in the epikt swells
h 'si large-scale assault, the first m which they teamed and the LOs and LSTs plodded proudly ahead of
up with other large American forces. For the first them,
time these veterans of the Pacific %ht ,we*e To land The night before the convoy was to arrive off Hoi*
under a iravai and air bewnbardment; For the first time landia the 'ships carrying and supporting Hie Persecu-
ther'e was a feeling that the eyes of a world at war non Force turned south and disappeared like z ghost
might be upon x hem and this gave rise to the feeling flotilla over the i&fcjV blue horizon. The Reckless Force,
that, their responsibility was nqtxuily to themselves bur . comprised- of the ?Ath 'Division and 41 sf Division (less
to the men woidd knd at Tanahmerah and Ahapc, the Persecution. Force) sailed on. Sometime during the
ru the men who; fired the batteries on the battleships, dark, moonless night the forces split, .the 24th Division,
ouism and- destroyers,’- to ‘tlie • men who bombed and proceeding to its 'objective at Tan&hmcr&b Bay while
strafed the tnmty (tom the ovethead, the jungiem cut back into the approach to Humboldt
Planes from flic earners Hut traded in the wake Bay,
afforded a protective umbrella ovcf the inassive-torjvoy; H-'hout .was 0700 on 22 April and Hollandia was
destroyers and cruisers rode in very close while the expected to be a tough nut to crack.
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CL
ft A MU
Chapter 9: The Bloody Butchers Strike
riHHE Division butchers are at work again, ’ In the murky dawn of that 22 April the convoy fay
I screamed Radio Tokyo as the unhappy news of within the bay Admiral Barbey sent the Navy dt-
JJL the latest Allred advances in the Southwest Pacific stroyers and the rocket-firing LOs forward, as the
was announced to the residents of Nippon. cruisers took up then conrifnandi'ng positions on the con .
Gerierd Fuller was amused by the new voy s flanks anU theJ^tge tT^iispofts arrd LSTs beg&rr
first applied to the I65d Infantry, and quipped, "Noth- to lower then* assault craft into the grey, still water,
jog could make me happier. ' By 1)625, a thousand antiaircraft guns were pointed
What great satisfaction this would have beer? to the (xilheiv¥s ; Which were fet turning from darkness
late White who had chided the newsmen be- into the blue fight of a new day. A thousand Of heir ,
cause they could not find a nakaame for his Division : gum were trained on the semidrcuLir beaches, their
By C)6«0 im D-day the men had been ted and were palm fringes and die jungles that lav beyond. Five
lined, fh ranks along the railings and in . every amceiv- minutes later the silent, coed morning was tipped to
able open spot .'above the deck. The stage was set and whred.s as the bombardment got under way. Shivering
ti’ency-five tlitjusarid men ofya; hundred ships Waited men moved rhetr.heads like:s|>ect 4 H)r>Cit a
the . bloody dawn. Silently and gracefully the convoy a$ they tried ro comprehend evexy muring phase of the
slipped between the strange wall of islands that ioimed ivattack. The blue-grey rnor 4 . 1 i.ng was alive wuh scarlet
the channel into the dear water of Humboldt Bay. tracers and rafts of cloud-trailing rackets sneaking into
Night was lifting, perceptibly, like a backdrop of a the a) teady hiimirxg Ashore. Yellow* seitiog:fta>tes from
shitting scene in a play Everyone stood quietly and the cruisers lfr the dries like giant lightning Hashes,
only the grunts and gasps of meri shifting their per- The destroyers and LOs were swiftly approaching the
semd uqmpment, and the nervous whispering' seemed shore line' ;md Were pouring a tern he eoncentration of
to interrupt the noiseless coming of efawn. At this same fire into the. Jap positions -along Humboldt Bay;
moment men Jibed the rails of smikir craft td the Before the naval Bombardment was complete, wave
south, waiting to land .on the sands of Aitape; while upon wave of bin debased Army Air Forces planes Born
to the north another . cbvfsroo stood silently as it Bin.sc bbafen and -carrier-based' Navy planes joined in
watched Tanahmerah Bay. evolve -out of the lifting the hg.hr. They dove • seemingly into the very -jungle
shadows of die night, if.sclh only to me again over the tree tops like startled
7h* duck cargo and mtn of the 4h> Oirftbft *n re irtu to Hollands, aboard an 1ST
78
THE JUNGLEEK5
The v62'j 1 nr army's 3d Battalion, which made Tip -.the
jP assault tauded at White Beach ! without appov
sifikiiu The initial waves were followed by six' tanks'
^ i from the Tank Company, element of the i T6th
J- Engineers, the 1 46th Field Artillery- Sttit 1 sir.;
\^§L , ‘ 2d BattaJlom of the V62d ^
T the l62d Infantry had been attached to the 3d Banal
\ ion for, ^Taodi-^g'afilii- -ajifter it wits &hmk if. moved
K \ ■ out along the edge of; the mangrove swamp with the
mission of cutting the Ptm-HolUodia Track to the
Hjfc ^ northwest of Pancake HjM,
TTiere was a great deal of congestion on the beach
Hr^p since the only exit was extremely, oanOW , The tanks
\ hogged dow o and at vvas impossible for the attack to
* proceefl with the speed wfricf* ha d been
I Once the regiment was- ashore it- immedonely formed
\ for the Attack and pushed inland. The Td
* after securing the beachhead., moved iin# Pancake Hdl
to the north of the beach. The 2d Battalion began the
move to die Pim-HoUaodia Track, this move being
j used to serve as a screen for the maun action, which was
being made by the 186th Infantry against Lermok Hill.
: i > The >d Battalion continued its push north and sent
f T Companies I and K along the beach route to take the
heights overlooking Cape Tjojben and Cape Jogoer.
The remainder of this baft&feh continued north toward
Jarr email Hill.. By this rime the; 1st Battalion, which
v constituted the Division;' r^serC".e v -;W.ent iota position on
t>d» and into *aWng ionding craft, o* anatkfr H-bdor
/jpproochsu.
geese, as they bombed and strafed everything .-.in eight.
The beaches shook and waves of concussion rose visibly
alxWe ttevbUck smoke of destruction^ The how in-
creased to .Wagnerian proportions, arid the-' soprano
wail of the diving planes sang. the weird score.
By (>64*) the initial waves of infantrymen syeteibu ru-
ing m then boats which were inscribing' what seemed
like hyst^ncak chde$ m fhe batyC Precisely the same pro-
cedure was hefog followed at Aitape where ‘the l 63d
Infantry Cornbaf Team wiy 'landing, and at Tana It*
rnerali Bay whete the 24th Division was' landing.
Most of the Japs who were left on HollMduh and
they were largely service troops, fled tobthe bifc. As
the a it strike subsided the infantry; in its tiny LOs,
moved toward the shore while the destoyers continued
the hombardmenr. The landing, craft soon were ob-
scured from those remaining behind by die low-hanging
blanket of smoke, Landings were m&de. four
designated as White Reaches l ? 2, 3 and A.
f roPpi ihttir btidfir -fti6 Holl&ndio Ian ding Pmtmzt-
tvnutidAi ftp acni's mearrf Hi* diffwvnc* bet*«*n Hf# and
d*ath
Dpmairr; Googte-djjgiitj^eci / http;//.www. hathitrust.0rg/aceessjjse#pd-g00gle
f on ^coming pigeon o‘f<i etact: th* lime o> »>j arrival of Whit* Peach 3 of
Hollandia. '
Men qt the 41 rt S/gnol Company remove o
nog, the artillery pieces were nestled iftfb. une of the of the 1st Battalion ^er/ed .Hamad t Island following a
shoulders of the hill: however horn the m they were twenty-minute rocket barrage. At the same tune the
very vulnerable. ' 3d Battalion was regrouping oq die eastern stapes ol
One retn forced platoon from Company A. J62U In jarremoh Hill,
farit/y, landed at H-hour capfrired The 2d Battalion* A*?hfch yvas saving westward ro
and secured Dulcimer Miliar which- ovajobiced the etr- ward the Pirn- Hcdlartdia Track* found the going veLry-
trance to Jaurefa Bay from the south end of the land- laugh since the terrain ovas dense swamp, and by noon
ing beach. After d>vera%uog--. some slight-' .resistance it had progressed only eight hundred yards-, being
this company occupied- tlie.Cape Pie .area. forced to uni a had. most of this. distance.. Company G
Within a half, hour afrer f he initial assault, .waves had iakm a route more to the north and after several,
had poured ashore, the first wounded writ being re- • hours of hacking Oiit -a trail, the remiunder of the 2d
turned to the troopships in the harbor by the small •: ; Battalion retraced As steps and followed -the*. Company
craft in which fliey had landed. The landing had been G route, Meamyhne, Company H already had cut the
made, the enemy had been engaged and/dhce again Puh-Holiaudia Traelcimd was awaiting arrival of the
history was recording the activities of the Jungletrs as 2d Battalion before proceeding north along die track,
they fought and killed and Were killed. When the 2d Rattulion reached the ira/fat to the
To the l62d Infantry was to fail the task of taking West slopes of jarremcilf Hill w here it. eff*£ted : a :
Hollandia Town, this being accomplished on the second with the vd Battalion, this bringing to a (. lose Chi best
day. Supporting this drive directly was the V4fith Held phase of the operation.
Artillery; the 21S£h. Field Arri fiery Battalion Was fur The Ui2d Infantry requested authority' to move T.?Y
nishing general support, to all forces. and take Hollandia Town but eyas instructed tQ dig fiv
The engineer had cleared the exit roads from the at hs ptesemt position for the night,
beaches but due to- the rugged ter ram: and the swamp.
rapid road const ruction was impossible and this pro- As the mellow dusk closed m on .D-day, a single
gram was abandoned temporarily,; enemy bomber, too low for radar detection, lieW in over
In the earjy afternoon of D-day a reinforced platoon Hollandia Town and White Beach 1 and dropped a
PQugfibpys, tarrying » tpoHor pini arntfuniUon, ptgft tnhndt frptn »/m biachbzatf : 'f«' frimwm*’ ftifigf* dun fig _fk* action at Hdtkffidict.
string of four bombs on the beach. Three of the bombs was made to expend only necessary' amounts of artimutib
resulted in great geysers of sand atul water, but the tiOft,
fourth bomb made .** .direct hit on a jap amrnunitKm On the momtait of 23 April, Holhndia was sub*
dump The subsequent explosions ignited one of tire fated to a bombardment from the air, from naval units
landing. £orvV< gasoline dumps, setting off in m instant standing off $hpre adnid from the artillery located on the
a fhur miUiOn-dolhn th-e which spread a thousand yard* heights to the south. Following tius Ix^mbardmeot the
jup down thfcdbcsch in a matter of minutes. Some I62d Infantry juiftpfcdi oft with the 3d Battalion m the
elements of the Division Artillery were caught on the lead, and by noon it had passed through the town and
beach that memorable night and at one time the guns was moving onto the high ground west of Imbi Bay.
of twu battaimo$ were seriously endangered. For two Very little resistance was encountered and most enemy
full days the fire burned furiously, destroying ail am* emplacements were found deserted. The objective of
munition* cations and a large quantity of engineering the 1 fi2d Infantry had been taken and the second phase
supplies. Throughout the- night, and following morn- I me had been reached. Consolidation of positions and
mg relief parties were’ formed but the intense heat vigorous patrolling hi the area north of Imbi Bay ikcu-
drove buck all efforts- to salvage supplies;: Adtomnai pied the regiment until . 2 $ April,
medical men were called to the area to administer first On M April, after a short artillery preparation, the
aid and much effort was made to quarter and feed the 1st Battalion made g shore to shore iW^mqnt across
many transients who were cut off from their units dur- the mouth of knhi Bay ami landed on Cape Soedja
ing the fiery night T1n$ was the first hottite &tr action with Companies A arid G landing abr£&$fc f'fo res&tance
of the campaign .and it resulted in death to twenty-four was encountered and by mid- morning Company C had
soldiers and injur)* id more than a hundred as the fire swept across the .-caps; killed four japs on H|H 6*40,
spread along White Benches 1 and 2, The only sup- and had occupied the ridges. The battalion swung to
plies left the task force were five hundred tons of the north along the pemosulig dominating small scat*
ammunition and rations winch had been landed at tered enemy groups, and occupied an enemy field has-
Beach 3. With this situation confronting them, the pi Mb Patrolling continued northwest along the coastal
troops were .order ed to ga on half rations a.nd an effort track.
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con;
ONE CO 2ND BN 162 UWOEO AT
H HOUR WITH THE 3RD BN 162.
SUCCE* M$ m CUTTING THL
i'lM KOU ANDlA road
ROUfC OP ADVANCE
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ELEMENTS Of THE 3RD BN
IfU? LANDED INITIALLY
AT: WHITE REACH 2 IN tVT.O»
HUT -FINDING H }WmSiBU2
TO CROSS THE SPIT INTO J^'
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FROM T.ur. HE At *’ ACO f
PROCEEDED AROUNO £
CAPE PIE THROUGH t'"'
THE BAY AND LANDED Fio'
AT Pi AC ^ F„ L ,
162 ( 1 ST BN * (H HOUR)
m CJRO DM v
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OVERLAND FROM WUlUi-Ti
Bf'AC-H | AND OCCUPIED \ '
RIM BY UOOKUNE SHOWS
UM»T 01 ADVANCE AT
IBOOK 22 APRIL.-
D-DAY SITUATION
HUMBOLDT BAY AREA
Originalificn .
UNIVERSITY OF -HlC Hi GAN
Digitized b
M
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Top: Landing craft assemble for the dash into the beach. Center: Men of the 186th Infantry at Sentani Airdrome on New Guinea Lower: Shermon
tanks aid a patrol in mopping up remaining Japs and knocking out stubborn resistance during the Hollandia fight A Japanese ammunition dump
blazes after hoving been set afire by the preliminary naval and air bombardment.
Bquipmeai of the 41 tt Division is moved from Mvrvbotch Bet/ to t he tap of. Poncok • Hill on He* Gutneta,
On 28 April the ‘ 2d‘ Battiijioo, less Company G, CannOp Company fol lowed closely on the hee'ls of
moved to Holkkang by water and relieved demehpt Company j and blasted die slight; resistance of three
of the 3dth* iof&dtry (24th Division). enemy positions. Company I then • advanced south
. :||e secondary, dbj^ctive of the l62d hifamry was along the beach to a point wo miles from Cape
Tami Drome, the airfield lying etfst of Humboldt Bay, Tjewea,
This field was located on a coastal flat; and Was Cut Shortly after it had landed. £otnpm$ l WM--&Ci0£h~
off from the Hollands area by the Djm Mmihtaihs tally strafed by American planes, four n^rbei^ig killed
and the swamps around '.Hoi lebmg, These terrain fea* and twelve wounded Lack of combturiications pic-
tures made the activities m this sector dio;re of a sepa- vented the company commander from rc^iiestipg ^ hatt
rate minor operation than a parr of. the mam effort, to the .strafing.
Two days after the landing two. Alamo Scout Teams Two platoons of T2-inch mortars which' had landed
had reepnnuiter ed the are* and during a two-day period at Cape Pie were laying down a smoke screen across
had located several scattered enemy groups. A party j Jute fa B&j\ The 3d Battalion, using Buffaloes and
of 125 missiommz had been -iouhdV LV1\ passed through the narrow channel between
On 27 April Company. G of the t62d Infantry, rem- Cape Pie and Cape Tjeweri and landed at the foot of
forced with a platoon of machine guns; made an over- Letwok Hill. The hill was too steep for the Buffaloes
water movement from Hollands Town to the beach but the troops unloaded, fanned out and advanced up
north of the airdrome: The company swept the area the slope unopposed,
toward the field and made no enemy contacts. Company The 2d Battalion, less some of its component units,
G then provided seen dry for the engineer units work- landed at White Beach ! and passed to Division rc-
ing on the dtorne and on \ May enemy hawing . .
forces, composed largely of individual snipers, became
very active and the troops available vvere unable to pro- fiP jj&m
vide adequate protection An the work deoids. Com- T/: : „• ''O d Co • H CqC's
pany G requested reinhKcemer.t and was relieved by ’ ' : S; -o.'TCo’ C :
•he 2d Bat oil is o • 0 thi. s ith 1 < ; r .« i *r r\ »■, lod, v T.twJ Or- ' • dfera d
area by vigorous patrolling while Company G. went - ' ' . .T , 1 c . h ", C d
back, to re join the I62d Regiment at Hnllekang. ? Co •*' *’ - 'T
While the )62d Infantry was moving north to over- f § - vf/ d'
run its objective, Holland.u Town, the 1 86th Infant r\
was moving '-westward to. capture two of the three air*
dm^nCv which were the prime objectives of the ^
l in the tlurd wave and proceeded north uG v.cm -c T " •. •' .CC‘r.C~
around Mangrove Swamp until they reached ? he F i; f*e ;. ’
Hoi I and i a Track. They t>,l (owed this ted hjuMi uun)
they reached Leirnok HilL Meanwhile* Company t hud i **' r
landed on White Beach 3 at H-hour v seued Cape
Tjeweri and blocked the peninsula from the south.
Mopping up
rttmotntng Japan*** in the HoUandia onto colls for 1h i
utmost caution.
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Digitize
Go gle
Original fmm '
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
OPERATIONS OF
rHE: RECKLESS TASK FORCE
22 APRIL - 26 APRIL, 1944
The 1 62d Infantry movft o/ong While Sepch i al Hollandia. A lap & (I dump h ablate at Xh# result pfirittl bombardweni
serve By late afternoon if had established a roadblock repulsed a series of counterattacks launched against the
on the P»m Hollandia Track. Unit night five Japs perimeter by a force estimated to be l H) Japs,
came alon,e the trail, moving smith, ’with two soldiers The 3'd Battalion was to move by LVTs on 24 April
of the ?62d Infantry; iff then cu.siody A 2d Battalion via Sentof Lake to capture -Cyclops Drome However
outpost killed one- Jap while {fe olhet tom took to the in moving tip to the front area the LVTs bogged down
woods, leaving the American prisoners, hiding in the in tlu* swampy road and at became apparent that they
jungles, where they were reo.wereJ the following would not arrive in time to make the attack. The 3d
morning. . Battal i(>n resumed its advance on the morning -of 24
The iKOth Regiment was receiving direct support April, winding its. way into the rugged bills east of
from, the 2<)5rh Field Artillery and two companies of Sen tarn Lake Support, mg artillery displaced forward
TdNrwh chemical mortars of. the mix Tank Destroyer as closely as the terrain would permit. However. Igtk
Battalion. Cape Pfe offered the only suitable ohserva^ of transportation 'prevented. .the T2*inch mortars from.
tion point and bring positions so the artillery w as coo- displacing forward and they did no t rejoin tire cegK
centra ted there. Several antiaircraft artillery Miffs came mem after the first day of fighting. The terrain was
ashore, but with egress from the beaches being blocked., • extremely favorable to defense and the somewhat de-
al! these batteries wmt into position along the shore moralized enemy made some use of <t. Such defensive
line. positions as we a: encountered consisted of Icjcatfy.or-
• .ganged centers of resistance based on dugouts. and
Early on the second i mo ruing the 1st Battalion of the pdilx>xes. These isolated positions fell readily to the
!A2d Infantry relieved rive 2d Battalion at the road- combined efforts. of the artillery and infantry and as
block position on Lhe Pirn-Hollandia Track The 186th lengthening shadfffv* began to fall the 3d Battalion had
Infantry, spearheaded, .by the 3d Battel ihn r made a reached Koejaboe, on the easterii tip of Lake Serna ni
move down the trail With support from t lie air. this Some of the 24 fh Division artillery was moved to a
column of bartahopj hr uihed aside the few enemy dis- position where it could lay fire on the drome areas
posed to dispute tiffs ' advance afftj by evening the 3d The I86lh Infantry started out. to take Nefauir, south-
Banahoti had reached a point a mile beyond Brink- east of Cyclops Drorm?, on 23 ’April, Rather than pound
man's Plantation At that pomt Company I rejoined its way through the stamps and rugged terrain,, the
the hattahem. its on jE^^- T|fevyeri having been rcffffVtiVht resorted hi a^phibidiis t^ciipL At $8Q0 the.
Liken over by the 41st Rmwnffssance Troop. The 1st 1st Battalion huded, ento Buffaloes and moved across
Barra) ion closely supported this moWhent and went the northern pa rt v>l the lake, making the landing >jkJ
into position about two miles northwest iff" Brinkman A securing the .village by noon. The remaining battalions
Plantation. During the aftcrnooiy QnnpoiVies A and C continued the overland movement along the shore toad
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A wovncW *o/cf*V Infantry it carri^rf into }h* \2th fa/fabt* #jo$pi*oj obout four nultt b«tdw Snnram Airdrama.
against ^teadd^ .*esi&t^C€-. . The i e^irrient '&KXipaof K<'uperatmj^ i/v ftUJff^lues v .made TfomprT
now was in positipn tQ iash ^>Ufc at the ^itiJfOnies y hut hensive' patrol <jf ^cntatn Lake, putting patties ashore
it was ordered to stand. fast utitd the 24th Division to mveshgaie Phegi and Ase islands and the victnh.V
Artillery lifted hie from the area. .By. this date the 34th of Ajapoy <iri the south shore vf f he lake. The patrol
Infantry Combat Team had .landed .on Whim Beach 5 found no enemy and returned to its start &£ point ott
and was taking over the defense: of the Pun area. 4 i an r
By the/inomi’t\it of ?.C>' Afsr^y--ever>Tliin^- wasTn- readi- An estimated /our hundred japs were reported in a
ness for the assault on the dromes The 2*35tir mi strong defensive pocket on Hill 1000, northeast of
2lBth Artillery Battalions ^re ready to give d&SCt: sup* Cyclops Drome on 27 April. Companies B and C
port, breaking up every enemy effort to l^afe^^ defen- attacked the posifmri the following day but were re*,
sive stand. Cyclops Drorne was assigned to the 1st pulsed after they had killed m estimated fifty Japs.
'PatfaUoa while the 3d Battalion swnng down the lake These jtwb '-companies withdrew under a Va.v round
shore to strike at Sentgni Promt • f ro®r’- the ^utfteist: : - urtinery barrage, They then took - up* heir; original posi
The 4d Battalion was held in reserve. The assault got tions until 29 April when the entire 1st tWttalion, on
imder way at 0900 and in less than two hour* Cyclop* the heel* of five artillery ameentmtmns, launched a
Drome had fallen while Serif am came under Allied eon- determined assault and overran the enemy, killing some
trol shortly before noon. In both cases ortly minor seventy -two- by ' rifle fire while an uxidetermined nuni'
resistance was encountered.. Defensive rifganfastion: of bet were killed by artillery fire. Revised estimates' placed
the two fields was begun inwnediatdy and pa tfokT T 5€$ enemy • troops on. the hill and ;t$e attack continued;
moved out towards the Hoilandia strip, By Lite after- about one thousand yards beyond Hill 10130 where the
noon a lsr Battalion patrol made contact with a 24th enemy dispersed. One company set up defenses on the
Division patrol and the junction of the rwev-diVisioh's- /• South slope of the hill white the remainder of the bar-
completed the pincers movement And. Brought into tofion rehumed ^ to the ^ regimen tab area- FatroUing arid
American hands all the primary objective^ .having acfivifres copttoued through 4 May, . ;
been taken past four days a/for the landing- There was* The veterans of Sahanghda and Safamaua had SfeimJ
however, some mopping up to do and the* regiment little '’butchering’' to do af HotLindia.. The Japs had
took up the task of clearing. the. sector of scattered missed a golden opportunity; Some officers predicted
enemy groups and consolidating for defense. that the enemy, if he had aoy tdnagjnation at ail, could
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Central MotArlbvr folk* c Ncrvry officer ehif* viewing the task iortt dt -Mil Division infantrymen *h o or* going ashore at Hatfanclia
have wire h:id been laid over steep, muddy jungle tracJcs
a papnfch. However captured diCKiurnenjv and testimony while another line .had’ been laid -Under water jt'totn
by prisoners confirmed the contention that, fust prior ro Beach 1 to Beach 4. Both of these tines failed, however,
the landing the bulk of the enemy garrison had moved It is wwib’noj^g that' the $fe&
to Wewak where the Jap trvpected the. next ' Allied more readi I v than they ever had. hi ov.c case a snUber
thrust. interrupted seventeen unarmed Japs who immediately
Higt> ranking Army and. Navy ■ officers who had %vjt- surrendered and were marched off to the stockade at
nessed the landing described ft as the perfect am phibt Mefaar Most of the Japs here were service troops and
oui assault. It went off, some said; just like a maneuver, yen' much disgusted yvith ihipg^ im&nefal. Ail during
and casualties wtrrc extremely light. General Mat- the campaign groups of Indian soldters, who had. been
Arthur, who twice before had praised the veteran list captured by file Japs at Strigaptfreamd were being used
Division, wdi> on hand to"- see It perform. • Re directed;, as laborers, were captured or came wandering into
and observed the landings from the. deck of j Maw American. Ime.v
ergisef'and Ucer m the morning wait ashore to impect
the beach and Pancake HdL Ten days after the landings at Hollands plans for
Pancake Hdl had been thick with red mud which future operationx- already were getting under way. Gen-'
made it tough for the artillery to move its weapon* into era l Fuller and several members o£ Jus staff boarded
position. However, when this mud dried and futhed one of. the Navy ships at no on oh 2 May for & confer-
to dost . it blew down throats, up noses. and into food en.ee which would take the 41st Division another step
and machinery. Long after the Hollands a campaign along r he way on the road to Tokyo and final victory,
had ended and the 4 1st Division had plunged asfhore The 2 4th Division began to relieve the Jungleers and
on coral-white Biak, red dust stilt a»uid be found. took over the defense of the Tanahmerah Bay-
Comrtiunrcations during the early stages at the opera- Humboldt Bay-Tunh Airdrome while the 41st Division
don- had been very poor. To alleviate this condition began moving into a staging area near Hoilekang:
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Origiral from
•universitt of MfCHiGAN
W HILE THE I62d Infantry and 1 86th Infantry
making. the landings in Humboldt Bay,
the l63d RegtmenUl^Cojfn^aV 7 earn, backbone
of a task, force of 22>5 CXji men under the command of
General Doe, w;>$ maGng a simultaneous- landing at
Aitope, The mission of this force was to land in the
Aiupe- : fadjt area, rapidly sciVe the Tadji dromes and
to prepare these airfields- quickly tn accommodate rme.
fighter group.
Tank* go into ftfilloo of A Ho p© whtle tf&vpx of the veteran 4ls f Ciivitioo ww » for* a Jop piifbox to be knocked out. The coconut ptjtrn /*c*v«i and brunches
afford cancepimenl tor the waiting infantrymen.
; ( C- v: 1 !
m
*v^S'rr s.
ftmsBNbt
_.Jel02BiS
VtPw^OT*
.
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tv Google
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Doughboys pt ty* 4 U* Division rid* fo the front linos aboard a DUKW on a beach in ihe A (top* areai whifo in the background other mtri enjoy
a pleasant and peaceful swim
nortlvsouth d fern Koril^O' ip the.d^d^^'- Company pronounced I. .ready foe ms, although ijpnproventeht' work
E relieved (Company L. at Relia and became responsible was continued:. Company B, 1 16th Engineers, had coo-.
for protection^ the eastftatik, .strutted a two-way toad from KorakpTp Wapth \Vbrk
The 1st and Zd Battalions of the 163d RCT began was being done at night and as yet there had been no
the advance westward at the same time the : 12 7th Reg* enemy, reaction.
mem. was making its landings. Shortly.- a Cier noon they The' period.', from .25 April through 27 April was
had' . Rail>u- River and stilt there was only spent m pat^dlhhg and consoUdatmg positions. Patrols,
slight enemy resistance-. Patrols were sent forward to from the Kfyd inhinify reconno#tered areas around the
determine the character of enemy installations in the Tep.ier Plantation, Kapoam Village and Pultaiul while
area around Hi}! iho. Meanwhile* the 3d Battalion, the 127th Infancy |ra trolled to flfnopdlh Xfue and
after being rdteved. by the 127th Field ActiHery, i;ame Anruno, but there were no contacts Iwitirthe' enemy- On
ashme around KoraJco aiid imtnediM&ty moved into 25 April, Company G of the i27fh Infantry occupied
positions at Pro, -ready to support the westward advance Ali Island a gaunt light resistance and thus completed
pi the ;: i63d-Regtmeoh • the reduction of tbjee nmn islands offshore. Liai-
By now the engineers were laying matting on the son planes, flying patrol missions along the coast
north strip while other engineer units were construct- twenty-five miles east and west of ‘ A jtipe, reported
ing bridges over the Wairanan and Pirn i Creeks and disorganized enemy groups evacuating.. It was on 2^
improving roads Antiaircraft artillery units were select- April that the 7St h Fighter Wing (RAAf) moved from
tng permanent positions, and dump areas were being Cape Gloucester to its new base at the north strip at
eimblisHecE^aidd # Afi^pe. Ferry service was in operation a am* the Raihu
On O plus 2 the 1st and 2d Battalions were eontmu- River and work was begun on a bridge, Radar installa-
iag: the advance west* from the Uaihu River against, rkms had been installed at Wapil, Seleo bland and
disorganized resistance. The movement was so fast that Tunifeo. island.
by 1300 Aitape had been; ukeo and was secured. The The unloading of supplies was progressing and the
2d Battalion • -cioty delay came oh 27 April when there w&s a four
1st Battalion Withdrew east of fhe.RiU.hu River and hour stoppage caused Ivy x submarine alert m thccarly
took up positions i.n the vicinity of .Titdji Plamattpo morning hours,. No contact was made with, the sub , and
along with the 3d Bartahan. Patrols were dispatched work was resumed.
west toward Tepitfr Plantation and .south towards Ra- The first enemy action of any consequence occurred
poaro Village. Meanwhile,, the 127th infantry ms con- on the afternoon of 27 April. A platoon M Company
solidarmg positions j.n the vicinity of Ntgta River and L moved into the village of Kamti where it had. estab-
w as patrolling the area Ibhcd am tact with an enemy force, An estimared two
The field artillery still was inactive insofar as being hundred japs surrounded the pbtoon-, which bad taken
called ufititi'i&i fire missions but the liaison planes were up defensive positions, and that night the enemy si
being used tor observation missions. The airstrip was; tacked in three waves, each . assault being* repelled by
=3
CL
92
THE JUNGLEERS
the surrounded infantrymen. Forty-one Japs were
killed. A liaison plane dropped rations and ammuni-
tion and on the afternoon of 28 April the remainder of
Company L went to relieve the surrounded unit.
The first enemy air action occurred on the night of
27-28 April when a lone plane approached the beach-
head from the west, flying low over the Torricelli
Mountains. The plane made two runs over the harbor,
dropped three 500-pound bombs and scored a hit on
the USS Etarnin, which settled at the stern but did not
sink. One man was killed, five were missing and thir-
teen were wounded during this attack. Personnel aban-
doned the ship by way of small boats and received
quarters and rations on shore. Later the crippled ship,
which had been carrying gasoline and bombs but was
nearly unloaded, was towed to the Admiralties. During
the night of 28-29 April another red alert was sounded
but no enemy planes appeared.
One battery of the 126th Field Artillery displaced
forward on the morning of 29 April to support the
action of Company L at Kamti. The remainder of the
company had arrived to aid the surrounded platoon
and in the ensuing skirmish killed nine Japs. During
the night Company L repelled two enemy counter-
attacks. At 1300 on 30 April another counterattack
forced Company L to withdraw, under cover of air and
artillery support, to defensive positions near Margne.
Later that afternoon a platoon of Company K rein-
forced Company L and as darkness fell the situation
was well in hand.
Company A (reinforced) departed from Aitape at
0800 on 30 April for Bes, a trail focal point seven miles
to the southwest. The mission of this force was to
block escape of the enemy to the west and to patrol this
sector. During the night the artillery fired 240 rounds
of harassing fire on the enemy at Kamti.
From 1-4 May aggressive patrolling was conducted
in the vicinities of Serra, Bes and Kamti by Companies
A, G and L. On 3 May the 32d Division arrived in the
Aitape area and by the following day it had relieved
elements of the 163d Regiment, which was moved to a
staging area to await the next Allied move.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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Chapter 11: Wakde Falls
T HE Biak and Wakde Island campaigns were not
long in materializing. Hardly had the reel dim
From Hidlaodhi and Aifape been washed outer!
the men's hair when General Doe was .given- e^mmaivd
of Tornado T^sk Three. ;whose mission was to $eaw
Wakde Island of the ^ Nw guinea
shore adjacent to if. Wakde Island on the map is called
Jnsoemoar Island. It is two rnites long ;ipd a mMe wide,
and lies offshore about two miles from Toem. Village.
How much the Japs used the island is not kno^T hni
theydid/ievelap an air held which handled many of
their planes Elaborate hangars, ginfml Fowers, radio
stations. and quarters were established and an extensive
roadnet and system of supply dumps had been built
These came in for a he of attention Emm the Allied
Air Foiees in 1944* The secure and development of
the Wakde area .as an advance air and naval operating
base would prevent hostile intetfer.eiKe with the devel-
opment of the HoUandat area and also would assist in
the support of subsequent operations to the northwest.
The Allied force was i 63d Infantry
Combat Team (reinforced), with the J 6.7th and 218th
Field Artillery Battalions furnishing support for the
operation, Since the latter was at Hollands the con-
voy had a layover at Humboldt Bay until loading de-
tails were completed. The 128th ECT of the Ytd
Division, located at ArUpe, and the t}$th RCT, an
independent combat team located at Fimchhafeiy were
designated as reserves for Alamo Forte, the code name
applied to the $c\uh Army units participating in the
Wakde-Biak invasions, and these Units were to be
prepared to reinforce e lijbtei . at
Holkmdia preparations \y ere going forward for the
landing at Biafe which \v as to bo mk»de i>n the heels of
the Wakde invasion.
Occupation of Wakde- was : to be a shore- tu-shore
ope ration by elements of Persecution Task Force/cora:".
22 # 500 ‘men : ^akde. w 4$ ten); small' an island to
permit the landing of all combat
of f he task force. By making a landing on the mam -
Finch the force would eliminate, the congestion of
troops and supplies, would secure excellent artillery
positions to support the.^ubsequeM Japdfngs on
and, conversely, would deny the energy the ahsiis in
which he could place arriilefy to tire on the island. A
ianJmg at Them v?U$ not: feasible because this village
was within close range of any hostile guns that might
be on Wakde. A rare, west of Toeni, was selected as
the landing site because it would dirpj^kfe much of
this threat-
Following a naval bombardment on the homing of
17 May the ..force made a landing against light opposi-
tion at A rare on the Dutch New Guinea maioland.
Across the channel from Wakde The 1 63 J Infantry
landed in column of battalions with the - ^ 3d Battalion
Seizing the mih;Cl beadiiieads After establishing the
beachhead this unit deployed toward the Tor River in
order to secure the west flank of the beach. The 2d
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poi<ol mov#f along a troll of Wokde Trucks, jommed #i*h supph&t^ wait f?f the ;id» of' «he ttad until it'.is soh to dsifrpt an d- diiWtiatp
♦#»*»> to* goes
Six waves loaded iit four LG VPs at Ayace Viiliige the men dosed iii Hie fire increased in -intensity and
an the mainland cm 18 May and each was followed tame from the flanks as well,. causing heavy u*sua1fW* ( s.-
by four IX Ms. The tending; points chosen were the Several coxswains and boat operators were killed and.
jetties on the south side of the fend. This appeared, although no boats had to turn hack, several got our of
to be the. only reef-free beach and had the added control and disrupted the wave and boat organ ns;?, non.
advantage of lending itself to and mortar Later information arid evidence indicated that the
support from InsoemanJi Island. japs e* parted the landing on the .opposite side •• of the
Companies. A and F were to go in abreast, with Com- island and they, were braced against tlut jveunt^ Reefs
party A on the right, followed, by Companies- ft and 4hd> tagged rocks, liowever. denied the beach there and
G, Company A was to tu#i to the right and clean up the invading tr<n^p$Avould not have bad the .bench t of
and hold the southeast tip of the island while Com- effective sgpporrfrjg fire from Hie mainland fhsoe-'
pany F was in turn left and mop up the southwestern mamn Island.
portion of die isisan^ and then move up to assembly • After the third was ashore, other sv aves fr*cciygd ! ess
point at the east end of the airsttip. Companies '0 :at>4 . .. // ;; l r CC'V\ ’ !•
C were to push inland towards the airstrip. Thus., it
was figured: that merely by establishing a bcachbead c ^ c — -
and capturing the second : objective, the airfield, two-
thirds of the area would Be ifi Allied bands and the
island would be out m h$IC Then resrihince.xpgid Lye
reduced: in piecemeal fashion, ^ftecause- so little resist-
ance vfe anticipated, LSI* with sappliel Were sched-
uled to come in at H plus l For shore- to-shore com-
muhic^tibn an uridehvater telephone ‘.able was laid
from the mamJand fa
In loading, on die mainland a hegvy surf was eh-
Countered. One tank shorted out its ignition system,
thus putting *t out of artiOr* even ..'befipite- the loading
waST^mpleted. '
The teadfrig wave began to receive Jap rifle, mortar.
and"ntachuK<gun fire about three hundred yards ffGttc
the? beach, despite the close mortar madhnegun
support fNym m'soertianai Island.. At ' first most of the
enemy fire was frontal and •fifrlb damage, but -a$
A tiHer coiuoiijf >s fooded into art **ocuohoa plant by medics and
part*- Wdkdt wounded were flown to a bain hospital
With (i of *haU*/0<!t coconut' palm tnr«M, « t»mind*t of ffte fiorc* TigiM fof patsastian of Wtjkde, member* of th* invosiott fat&.slpek
tip Supplies on th*- beach.
fir£ wlWlc approaching the shore because the Japs, bv of water and only the top of the turret hatch was
this rune, were concentrating on the assault companies, visible. Now only two tanks remained When they hit
These., m spite of heavy beach fire, had reached some the beach every. Jap on the island fired fiipWv at them,
oner along the bead* shelf and fringe. The supporting japs raised up from the trenches and stuck heads out
h re .from htsoem ana i kept, the japs tfi their installations of pillboxes to gape at them; Fifteen .minutes after the
and. prevented then* from rushing the pinned -down tanks landed the Abies had fire superiority in the
tmops (m the htraJi If ;ds*» preveiitcd the enwv rein beach) read area Later 1 Mi dead Japs were counted
foawtehfe from, nuwmg ant of the inferior of .to; here- ....
island. The two tanks worked together bcaurifulh and they
During the la ml mg phase of the operation, three had a psvchologiud eKect upm the enemy, S tones were
company commanders were casualties. Things were told of japs shaking angry fists at the steel monsters
pretty hot and as the landing progressed the messages and diargmg them with sabers' Jiui bayonets. A few
sifting back to those still at HollandiV indicated that Japs managed to get atop the tanks but were killed
the resistance being encountered was the toughest that before they couhldo any damage,
had thus far been put up by any enemy garrison along The island was covered with bombproof bunkers >nd
the New Guinea .shore. The beach ship Was open sand, '.. .pillboxes. Some of these had walls of \oeoum logs.
Those wpet made it ashore were hugging die ground, ten to fourteen inches m diameter with six to eighteen
shouUet to shoulder, under the beach shelf They were inches of coral rock and soil between them. in some
pinned down by heavy machfivegUn fire fmm concrete cases gas drums filled with sand, truck bodies and
blockhouses, a trench system and 4 series of caves, frames, and steel landing boats were iococponiied in
inland there was a mass of blasted coconut .trees' and the construction. Roots were usually i>t three to five feet
frond, wrecked piers, warehouses and equipment The of corah The enemy holed up in these installations all
noise - was. deafening. Gradually, indjvtdu#{ ^eff parked during the bombardment phase of; the invasion and
forward and gained firing positions but this method lived a hfe of comparative ease and safety. The only
Was slow and extremely costly in proportion to the disadvantage evident was the poor organization ot
ground gained, these bunker* md pillboxes. 1 here w as no pl.uv or
The three tanks started ashore and they laid down system as fo their location
machuie-guo arid cannon fire as they started down the The tanks j>rbke; to stalemate on the beach but ■ it
ramp. One tank immediately disappeared m seven feet was impossible to keep the entire line moving' with
Tiroofi* Ifo t&2d fttfonlrf hug Jh» beach wfo.it they at* pihnzd tfnw.B-Ay-'AiifaMtr ■ macb'irt*$u4 fb&J'w.' WrM*-.
itnly/f'Vii tii them it was **t this time that the two- nf them tilled over d supposed!) dead jap, Jwve.vei:*
funks. we4“ used together in order m help fhc infantry- he tad life chough th detonate a. grenade, killing frinv
rnen fnrwjrct by groups from right to left Both tanks - self and seriously wmiudmg both seamen. The under
went mio the Company A sector because the ground water telephone, cable refused to' work and radio had'
was hrm there lr was the highest elevation on the to be used txcldsivejy. Before long the network was
island and commanded the beachhead, ft. was assumed jammed wdh messages The first hulidc^er ashore io/e
rim the japs would fight hard m hold this hut the out all four company phone hues to the eornmand post
unpredictable Nip duiru Have over ,* dozen men on At this time Company D Was ordered fo rejoin the 1st
the ridge. and these withdrew rather than face the pres- Battalion on Wakdt\ Hus unit having landed on imoe
surd Company A reorganised on the ridge and the roanai the previous day,
tanks transferred their support to Company B; which Company C by henv had reached the airstrip .end the
started forward but r?n into long- range enfilading fire tanks were turned <wr to Companies. A aoJ K The
from dts right and right fmbtc tatta ' of fh& Ate, li was .otatatte^ 'whis mm overcome and
later leatheJ. was, delivered front the ixrofs of partT thrT ^wepL -arrWhd the west, -erid of the airstrip' The
ally destroyed buildings and from a water* storage plan was to advance two companies abreast through the
tower, .. The, result, was that the 3 £3d right flank area between the north side of the strip arid the beach,
separated and a. gap developed; The tank commander .notified the infantry commander
’ • ' Company B reached the airstrip, but Company' F that the tanks had exhausted their supply of arntnnni*
reported that it was up against stiff resistance, k was t ion and that a trip back, to rhe beach was necessary to
m ter rain, resembling a bowl and was bucking against reload. This trip would require at feast an hour and
strong emplacements Company F was in the pit of the it was already \ 630, The infantry commander <£il l was
bowl %hjd the enemy emplacements were on the rim. determined to get the rero&indec of the japs into a
The unit was suffering some casualties, smaller area so they could he contained and held better
Company C reported light opposition and expected during the night,
to reach the airstrip without help. However, the tanks Companies A and F ran into more resistance on the
were sent to support it to insure its reaching the second extreme northwestern tip (A the Island add their • ad-
ohfeitive without mishap. Simultaneously, Company A Vance was flowed down. It . was obvious that the japs
was ordered to leave one squad to hold the high point Were moving in and budding up a. line against them,
it had just taken while the remainder of the company This was one of the rare instances where, jap officers
took up positions to the right of Company F. The units seemed to take .command of their troops and direct
trying to i ei i eve Company F tan iota an extension of them. The ter ram here favored the enemy. There were
the resistance that was holding up that unit/ some corat crevices and rocks/ the brush and debris was
More trouble and iiiCoM^ieoCfe^ were developing, dense and thk k. and wrecked planes*, tfuckk, and equip-
L.SJF.T and .targes "were lanchifg and suilijrs and Meo memt rme scattered ataqtMi iron fusion,
thi'nt JVfawhe men were under foot everywhere, Two //jAlthpUgh the southern edge of the airstrip was
P u b I i cppn^iB J3e.ag I e
^rbm E FALLS
by L70LV graving machine-gun fire from the
eastty;mend of the strip- made crossing impjadfciibfc
Howler, parr -of Company C was later Sect across the
drbtpe u ndei protecting fire from the wcapoti^
( >i boUv Complies B and C This movement eosf .three
usuries,, but it severed the enemy & rimficftft reinforce-
mehb and wUhdraWaL In tiur final : |^»s
were cur off and trapped m ^ppKi?i5mateiy *i ten aere.
a rea su r rounded by f fie hy o com pan ies -plus two pi a
tohnv The .fight tp. eliminate. the trapped enemy troops
a^itfinted fo< about a -half hour an4 mfhy |apS' began
irtdmdual joiiddal action; V / 1 ' >v
The japi* left on Wij&cte do about
ah eighth of the total area. During; this time Company
B was hikmg a lot of; pumshmeni ^nd it was ordered
to fight merely a holding action. This company was
receiving enemy grenade and . knee-mortar fire and,
furthedttore, the japs « slipping aruund the corn -
pa ny*s right flank. To : halt This enemy action and to
prcverfi the enemy from £g3fii deploy^ over the ’whole
island, including the beachhead. Company A pulped
forward on the north side of rheWtp &$ far as it could.
At the same time Companies C and jF wc^ puljteri .out
and put on a 1 me tv ith Company ft. thus completely
closing ari encirclement f rom the m»d-pOmL ^The air-
strip to the seacoast on the cast end of the island. By
the rime Gout pah fes Cand V got into position, Comv
patiy A had gained five hundred yards or the north
side of the. strip. Then more r oppos0m developed, ft
was getting late and the,auflf* J?egan to consohdate them
defense, for the nighi , W if.lr the $ud-b£
and an Alligator^ water and a Te-suppb^of ammtmitiori
>vdre deljvcred fi.) all units- as they dug in at the end
of the first days fighting, :
The night was-, relatively quiet Company G toalc
some mte.rmi\tenr . Jftte&morfar fife until about 2000,
harassing araljery fife at thc rate of fcw^ty rounds per
hour wtts delivered no that portion of the island still trucks had been driven inland and left without ade-
hdd by tfc Japs. In o ; rder to ; 'halt the hn.etnyorbat . quate guards. Fifty Tour Japs, who had been by-passed,
the artillery was drawn in as dose as possible and fired during the first day s fighting, had assembled during
thirty rounds..- -'This silenced the -Jap until divybmk Ar the night and made a futile attack on a group pi Air
0200 a platoon of Japs, consisting of an officer and Force engineers on the beach. A sergeant took com -
fifteen men, with a knee mortar and a light machine mand nf'the situation, organised an.^nvebiping.countef*
gun. advanced Awn a side mad toward the battalion attack and wiped out the enemy. Company A was des*
CP perimeter. A Sioux Indian sergeant had a light sm* perately short of water, An adequate supply to carry
chiiw giin cdyeriug the road and he aliovved the c?iemy it through to noon had been delivered the previous
fO approach withui five. yards 'of Iris position before fie night bur Jap fire throughout the mght bad punctured
opened fire m them, kd I mg fifteen. One prisoner, a many cans. This company had kil led over eighty Japs
Hawaiian bom Jap -marine who spokfc ^gxcdleut Fiighsh, who were trying to escape through h during the night
walked jmo a supply dump on the beach and surren- and early morning. ’ ' ■ .G
dered. This was the only captive, t^keivthroaghoufjhe. The 'tanks were slow in reporting to the front area
entire fight that morning, the delay being caused by the fight
At daybreak a parry of six or eight japs set fire to between the Japs and elements 0. the engineers. This
b juf trucks belonging fo the aviation engineers! These fight resulted in everyone in the beachhead area being
thtf officer inifpticls a htiim *hBre a Jap slug lore through his Mme» and
liner riving the Wafcdfc /nvotipn..
i
^■'Assembly
tit. p T J
INSOEMOAR IS.
SNSOEMANAI IS.
WAKDE ISLAND
DUTCH NEW GUINEA
made contact. The whole island had been covered by
now but there still were Japs left. These were hiding
under debris and in cleverly concealed pillboxes, while
the more tenacious ones crawled into coral caves and
crevices, several of which were on the east end of the
island. From these they fought fanatically to the bitter
end. Tanks proved ineffective against these caves as
the openings faced seaward and the approaches were
too rocky for the tanks to negotiate. Flamethrowers
were pressed into action and by evening all the emplace-
ments were cleaned out. The last organized resistance,
which had continued stubbornly from the northeastern
section of the island, was reduced during this second
day of fighting. The day also marked the unopposed
landings of Company F on Liki Island and Company I
on Niroemoar Island. Radar installations were estab-
lished on these islands without enemy interference.
pinned down. When they did put in an appearance
there were three of them, the third being the one which
had dropped into the water at the beachhead during
the previous day. It had been towed out and put into
operation.
The attack for the second day called for Company A
to hold fast since it was planned to push the remaining
Japs into the area just in front of this company. On
the south side Companies B and C, with the aid of the
tanks, were to advance until they pinched out Company
F, When the advance reached the narrow area between
the east end of the airstrip and the seacoast. Company
F then was to join Company A for the final dean up.
The plan worked well. Company A, now on the
north of the strip at its eastern end in three platoon
perimeters, held fast and sniped Japs, like shooting
ducks from a blind, until noon. At noon both flanks
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**&»'< o# Compony 3. 163d -fnjfo'Mry, 'tQii«_ tim* Put t>h Wakd# wriil* uWattiriglfte, mi urn 'pt prfvonc*. par.tie* >rom »he air strip.
Gougli
Chapter 12: Bloody Biak
W HEN THE Toem-Wakde campaign still was
in the planning phase the instructions called
for the 4 1st Division, less Persecution Task
Force, to make a landing in the vicinity of Sarmi. As
the plans took shape the Sarmi phase of the operation
was abandoned in favor of a strike at Biak, one of the
Schouten Islands. The initial phase of this operation
was the landing at Arare on 17 May by the 163d Infan-
try while the decisive phase was to get under way on
27 May when the remainder of the Jungleers were to
storm ashore on Biak.
The Schouten Islands are located in the north central
portion of Geelvink Bay. Only a narrow channel sepa-
rates Biak and Soepiori Islands, the two principal
islands of the Schouten group. Biak is the easterly of
the two and is the result of a series of regional uplifts
of the earth’s crust which brought a shallow sea floor
to the surface. A coral reef made an outside border
around the island. The eastern third of the island,
roughly the area east of an imaginary line between
Sorido Village and Korim, is bounded by an almost
unbroken ridge of this narrow, terraced, coral reef,
which in places rises to 330 feet on the ocean side and
160 feet on the landward side. The reef is covered
with tall rain forests and frequently is made up of
parallel ridges which serve as additional obstacles in
terrain already quite difficult. The island has a gener-
ally flat surface, with the exception of limestone moun-
tains in the northwest and in a small area north of
Bosnek.
A road suitable for motor transport was constructed
by the Japs from Sorido Village to Bosnek. In addition
to an excellent track running from Sorido Village to
Korim, a network of trails radiates north and northeast
from Bosnek. West from the surveyed airstrip site,
north of Bosnek, run two trails paralleling the coral
ridges. These trails assumed importance during the
operation as the routes leading to Mokmer Airdrome.
Much thought was given to the selection of D-day
for the Biak phase of the campaign. Those making the
plans figured that if an interval of ten days separated
the landing at Wakde and the assault on Biak, the
amphibious shipping used at Wakde could supplement
the shipping needed for the landing at Biak. Further-
more, such a spacing of the landings would enable
fighter aircraft from Wakde to cover and support the
operations at Biak.
Accurate maps were unavailable and headquarters
had to rely solely upon the reports of air observers and
the interpretations of aerial photographs for the timely
information of the terrain and the enemy installations
in the objective areas. Although reconnaissance patrols
could have obtained some helpful information these
were not used because the detection of such activities
by the Japs would have revealed the Allied intentions
and robbed them of the ever important element of
surprise.
Mokmer, Bosnek and the area between these two
villages provided possible landing sites in the Biak
area. The strongest resistance was expected at Mokmer,
which was known to be the most heavily defended
area. Aerial photographs indicated that between Mok-
mer and Bosnek either mangrove swamps lay imme-
diately behind the beaches, or cliffs rose sharply from
the beach. Bosnek finally was selected as the landing
site because the area had a good road, two coral jetties
and coral dispersal areas suitable for supply dumps.
The Biak force, known as Hurricane Task Force and
commanded by General Fuller, had as its major combat
unit the 4 1st Division, less the Wakde Force, rein-
forced. Hollandia was selected as the staging area for
this force and under the palm trees and perfectly
cloudless skies the preparations went on, beginning
around 10 May. Work went far into the night in
blacked-out tents which served as command posts. Yet,
nearly everyone found a few lazy minutes each day
to lie on the white sandy beach and swim in the blue
surf. There were outdoor movies,, and there were red
alerts practically every night. One night it was neces-
sary to sit in front of the theater screen for nearly five
hours to see a particularly good show from beginning
to end. Four red alerts interrupted the cameraman that
night. Food was good and plentiful, and just before
this force sailed for another invasion, a large group of
men left the Division for the long-awaited voyage
home via the rotation plan. These men were incredibly
happy over having cheated combat — and possible death
— by so little as one week. And as it turned out they
were more lucky than any realized because Biak proved
to be the most expensive combat mission the Jungleers
ever were to know — in length, arduousness and in
lives lost.
During the planning phase the possible use of the
163d Combat Team as reinforcements for the Biak
force was visualized. Accordingly, LCIs were to be
available to transport this unit from Toem on 2 June.
In the event that the hostile opposition at Biak proved
to be stronger than was expected, the 163d Infantry
was the logical reinforcing unit since it would be mov-
ing from the nearest Allied base to Biak and would be
strengthening its parent unit, the 4lst Division. To
insure the availability of the 163rd Regimental Combat
Team for this role, without weakening the Wakde
force, the 158th Combat Team moved from Finsch-
hafen to the Toem area about 21 May.
On 25 May Hurricane Task Force assembled on
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datiroytr of o n&vQl fqtk tor** #hi<h invoked Bioi r ft** efo*« to thnr# toronfar avfip/ftt to ih* Ending of -4t*t OirUion troop*.
HoIlafulkV White Beach 3 and that night jumped off
The jd BafraHoti of the 1 86 th Regimejpp w&r ms-
signed .to take a position on the west end of. the beach*'
htsLd a.d'd ; the,;24 Battalion to take up u jto$4it^X
on the right, hat it landed far out on the toft, The 2*1
Batt&Uoa proceeded inland without fc$ifitart<e Until
it reached the Rosnek-Mokmer coast abroad where it
quickly reorganized. By noon the 2d and 3d Battalions
reached them respective objectives and the 2d Was re
ceiving scattered resistance from the Caves in the face
of the ridge* . • •• . , , ‘ v * : ;V, >:
Tile; Japs must .have known this was The lo2d Infantry, which had been assigned the
corning. The island had been subjected to heavy mission of seizing Mokiner airdrome, landed behind
aerial bombardment and no shadow of a doubt could the 186th Regiment. Once ashore the 3d Battalion,
have remained when the Navy moved its crukm and: which was in the lead, passed through, toe lR6th In-
destroyers in close to shore two weeks prior to D-.day fan try and began the westward advance down the
and began tossing tons of shells into the island at the coastal road toward Pa mi. The 2d Battalion, less Coni'
rate of thirty rounds an hour, contmuing this pace pany E, followed the. 3d Battalion dowb the xbastal
night and day. However, toe Japs just crawled farther road
.into their holes and were safe from the bursting shells. Time was valuable ac this stage of the operation and
The morning of D-day was a brilliant, dear, sunny some was Tost while toe units- crisscrossed back and
day. A forty 'minute naval barrage and air bombard- forth to join their proper organizations. -Careful orie-n-
mem left smoke billowing against the sky. It became tation of the men as to their mission and the radical
so <f trise that trrrtobs to the landing craft cogld not added to the ease with which toe pfedka
see the shore and the objective areas were hidden merit was adjusted.
from sight beneath the pall of a slowly dissipating Supporting the infantry were the 205th and the
grey cloud. The Japs, for the most part retreated to t-torb Field Artillery Battalions; the 12 1st field Ami
their underground installations and just waited, lery of The 32d Division; and the 947 th Field Artillery.
The coral reefs offshore caused tome tohfuston Sixth Army battalion of 155mm howitzers, which had
among toe landing craft as they came in to make the been attached to the task force foe this operation,
landing. The narrow sandy beaches offered ar« to secure Division Headquarters and Division Artillery Head*
foothold. The 2d Battalion, 186 th Infa mry, m Buff a- quarters ; Were among the initial units ashore on D-day.
Ices., amphibian troop ^rnd cargo carriers, was the as* By imdmorn.tog. the artillery ashore and the guns
sauit battalion, hitting the ..beaches at 0730, A section were m position at .Bosuek - Village,
where two jetties projected into the water was selected The T86fch Infantry had extended the beachhead one
for toe landing of tb/s battalion. The first wave of mile to the east and west of Cw«snek and patrols were
.sixteen Buffaloes was divided' into three groups, fight active to the ..north* meeting only slight resistance,
craft, were to go in between toe jetties, with four on Meanwhile,, at. a point about seven thousand yards
each flank. Because of a six-mile-ao-hoiir westerly west of Bosnek the coral ridge approaches. co..' Within
current and the limited visibility the entire 2d Bat- forty or fifty, yard* of toe coastline ami at rhb point
talte. firsf #&Ond and third svaves landed in f jie becomes a verric&l coral and limestone chff v for^ksg a
swampy area .. jasT Aveto ot Mandon and about two narrow defile; Here the advancing 1 62<i Infantry en-
miles wrest of the proposed landing site. countered the first organized Jap resistance. The re-
Co gle
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CROSS SECTION OF CORAL RIDGE
CUFF ON SEAWARD SIDE 200-300 FT HIGH-
NUMEROUS CAVES. IN TH£ HEAVILY FORESTED
coral FIOGES. TERRAIN extremely diffi-
cult TO TRAVERSE ,
AFTER LANDING . 5620 . INF P ASSE0 THROUGH
UT5TH INF AT BEACHHEAD A RS ADVANCED TO
f'ARAI AGAINST WEAK RESiSTA-NCE Am- SR
.
RfOIMENT WAS FORfiEO Ip WITHDRAW 8V
HE AVY FIRE FROM FRONT ANO FROM CLIFFS'
ON FLANKS
# PARAI DEFILE
' < ////;/! “ ‘ 1 1 1 * * 1 1 » * » »» 1 1 1 U » ‘ V< 1 ‘ 1
yl f 'rti ""it f »i v \% i !. » 11 M h f ( i ii , Hi ' J 1 , i" " ' llVnU' ' '
JETTY I
SOEHGGARAl'RAY
LIMIT OF MOKMCf?
ADVANCE ' ;
Digitized ty Q() v
JIM I
Original frorr
SiTY OF Ml
:higan
lie Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.Org/access_use#pd-google
B I A K I.
1 . 1 1 . /Kjf J ' ' ^ ^
■ YP~
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/
/
4.
163 INF (LESS THE 2D BN) ARRIVED 31 MAY
AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK OVER DEFENSE OF
BEACHHEAD PERIMETER. ONE COMPANY OF
THE 186TH INF SECURED RIDGES NORTH OF
BOSNEK AND RECONNOITERED SURVEYED
DROME SITE. ONE BATTALION MOVED EAST
TO OPIAREF.
v
\
3.
162D INF REPULSED THREE COUNTERATTACKS
AT MOKMER VILLAGE ON 29 MAY BEFORE WITH-
DRAWAL TO NEW PERIMETER NEAR MANDON.
EIGHT ENEMY TANKS WERE DESTROYED AND
400 JAPANESE WERE KILLED. ENEMY HAD
FORMED ROAD BLOCK WHICH THE 162D INF
WAS FORCED TO REDUCE AS IT WITHDREW.
1 .
41ST INF DIV (-163D RCT) LANDED 27 MAY
1944 AGAINST SLIGHT OPPOSITION. CURRENT
AND POOR VISIBILITY CAUSED LEADING WAVES
TO LAND NEAR MANDON INSTEAD OF BOSNEK
BEACH HEAD RAPIDLY ESTABLISHED.
LANDING AND OPERATIONS
AT BIAK
PERIOD 27-31 MAY
MILES
Map 13
Digitized by Got. -gle
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
A HUKW carriot 41*f OiVittcm troops /award thm fighting front on B»aJt
distance was n«t bie ; ing offered bv a large force but due rnuffleif sound of motors was heard f rom that direction
to the terra m advantage*. the tew enemy troops were jUjH prior ti> the attack.
able to hold up the Jungleers" .advance for several The second day found the I62d Infantry advancing
hours, American tatiks were pressed into action and, to Mofemer Village where strong hostile forces laid
supplemented' by ‘ naval-gun lire. Anally dislodged the down, heavy mortar and .mathine-guii tire from the
enemy. dornfftoting cliffs on the north dank. The coral ridge
While this battle was in progress Company Ft. of the' and cliff turned sharply north just east of iMokmer
2d Battalion, 162d Infantry, had landed and was mov- Village: and widened into a coastal plateau A sharp
tng ml and across the ridge in an effort to reach the copd-chff approximately twenty feet high ran d Lag-
plateau It reported that the. senes of ridges was so mally across the coastal, .corridor, forming a retrace,
rough and w£gefat‘i*M so Uiak that was The enemy latmdhed m attack here surd drove a wedge
impossible. This company w as to have maintained a to the coast, thus cutting, off the leading elements of
position either parallel with or echeloned to the. right the regiment while the 2d Battalion was pinped down
rear of the 3d Battalion. However. it was lagging far and was unable to' get: onto -the terrace, '.The shoreline
behind and was unable to hold the posttoi In order in this area ....was a, vertical cliff varying f rototwebty
to sustain a 'more rapid rate of advance. Company E to Mxty feet 11 ft height. Small secondary growth wv
was ordered to rejoin' the 2d Battalion ' and reached ered rhe area and was thick enough to prevent good
supported by tanks
counterattacks from the west.
APPROX
OBSERVATION SMELTER
•I pillbox;
MORTAR
LADDER
CORAL. CUFF
MOKMER POCKET
SCHEMATIC CROSS SECTION
240 '
APPROX"
BLOODY BIAK
Following the withdrawal m the UvM infantry sec
tor a jiew plan of attack was fonnulated, T lig toepm-
ing I6:kl Infantry was to take over the defense of the
beachhead area, thus relieving the 186th Infantry*
which then could divert its activities toward the air-
drome ■site north of the coral ridges and Brisnek
When preparations were complete, the 186th, making
the roam effort* would launch an attack: westward
along the high plateau north of the ridges, purting
the regiment in position for an assault m Mokmer
drome from the northeast At the same time the J8hth
was making this move it was planned to have the )62d
advance west-' to the dronle along a naitow itop Of
level ground, between The sea and. the cool .diBx.
In Hue vicinity of Paioc th^ base of these cliff? the
seashore almost merged and this terrain tea fum was
referred to throughout the cam pa ign as the Parai Defile.
For the next three days the i62d Infantry conducted
in feristye patrol activities to determine. the enemy posi-
tions. on the ridges to the north. It also consolidated
its positions and reorganised its broken ranks The
artillery* mortars, planes and Navy shelled and strafed
the area cd Pa.rah Mokmei Airdrome and the ridges
which hemmed the drome on three sides 3 way from the
sea. The enemy was making splendid use of the defen-
sive vpial tries of the terrain and there was little doubt
lingering m. the mittik of the Juhgleers that the corning
battles would he tougher than anything which the
Division had encountered thus’ fee. That the jap Mt
tha£ JSfek was worth fighting and dying Tor was evi-
dept by the increasing number of lowdevel bombing
stacks carried; out during daylight . hours , Harassmg
attacks at -bight also Avere becoming more numerous;
The I62d patrols found that what svas thought to be
a single ridge was actually a senes of seven sharp cxual
ridges, which apparently had been caused by m up-
heaval m the earth's surface. This entire’. ridge a r*
men t was honeycombed with small caves, holes and
crevices and, though there was practical ly no soil
A pqtraf pfth# 162,1 itiftiiiffy adrtwc&r toward the oiriirip on Biair
covering the corah the area was covered with. . a dense
grow th of rain forest. Two native- tracks crossed the
ridges just east of fb<Ji but r he enemy had strong posi-
tions blocking both trails,
Par roil mg continued in the 1 86 th Infantry sector
until 1 June when the newly planned attack was
inaugurated. The 1 63 d Regiment landed ,u Bosnek on
th^ date and took over A he defense of the beach area.
Now after- more than fifteen months of fighting and
dying in the jungles at Papua, New Guinea and Dutch
Ncov Guinea, the list Divguan was assembled as a
lighting machine and was making a coordinated effort
for the very first time. Upon being relieved, the 2d
Battalion, 186th Infantry, moved to Ophfet and re-
duced the enemy resistance there, later the Id Bat'
teliorc joined the 2d neat die su/veyed drome north of
Borne k and made Ta^f-mfimte preparations for a co-
ordinated attack to the west. Five tanks and one
platoon of the 1 UThTTigmeers moved into the area
and the 121st Field Artillery was attached to the 1 86th
Infantry for the westward move. The engineers com-
pleted repairs on the supply toad leading west from
OpuucT hv late Ulemoou At the .sayne ome the 2d
IkuUhon, 162J Jiiiaouac took rn one ol the t utils lead
;ng across the ridges . on its north flank* and the Uv,>d
Infantry was aiding in the movement of supplies; in
addition to m defensive Julies-,
In the early morning hours of 2 Jung the 186th
Infantry was attacked by a force of unknow-n strength,
Mortar fire and: loud shouting preceded the attack
which lasted four hours and f eatUted conriderablg
hand-to-hand combat with each side i^piovmg: ma-
chetes, bapbrfcfs .inti a Inruifrd Atfibgnt af
small -arms fug/ At daybreak the attackers began to
withdnrw .while some, af . the mo.ee sendiisly w dlanded
Nips . either 'committed bar a Mr/ or attempted to fight
Shill it'af ted tall 9* i(*c » fuoUth odd/tiohot hartdiedpifomen aKfhi \63d
Infantry til they tftoye- f award M6k<yr»T Airdrome.
THE J
A eotym/r of 4t fi 0|W4«oi7 troops o Sherman funk on r*cJgr« north
of Molarnvr At retro mo
Puial
1H* Japs vW'd cov** tik* ikit during th*:4ink opHaltan. Junghwn pnpar* ta attack t Hr* <wi«;
or<^mi Jo' prepare to fire two batteries seaward, iiull> fojtfe Were to fire seacard on any mvadihg e&emy units,
dozers and dump trucks assisted m digging gun pits The journal account also does not tel lb f the hat nerves
and preparing revetments. Headquarters prepared to that made men work without let-up at the end. of a
ipove m -& .mi.nn^r.>vnorfe^- and alternate witesystems pick or shovel ot at a typewriter all day long* making
were laid At 1 71 & news came that the enemy task the record in corai and on paper of m enemy, fleet
force was about M rmles west o( Manokowan -and that amung ever closer to shores .so newly won, ft only
a large force of B-Ks ami B- 2 Ss was on its way to tells of. the parade of I S naval might gomg past the
attack, American naval Uhds were approaching ftiak, island h> give chase, Aien ifoed thebeichey that evening
and by T94l> fougtmbers .and eleven dtp# rove n stemmed and broke tnm spontaneous cheers and finally went off
full speed past, rile' 1$ land on ^westward course:. The to the mundane task of fighting rhe cayed-up enemy
Jap force was reported to have turned north west, ar on Buck. There was a feel. mg of relief, carelessness,
Manokowan and lost contact with Allied 'airmen about and perhaps a little of mightiness.,
three hundred in iles west of Biak . This is the story as The westward advance was halted on 4 June while a
related in a journal entry but it does not record the search for ,sn approach around the Parai Defile took
many little 'things that contributed to the excitement and place. For three days elements of the *62d Infantry'
trepidation felt by the men that day. tried to break through tbte enemy stronghold On 5
It does not record the fact that the day svas very hot, June m attempt \vM made w ith the support being fur-
and that even with the threat of an enemy naval bom- nisfied by a destroyer, a rocket LG and flak boats but
bardrheng a man could dig revetments, tunnels and despite this strong support the mission failed. The
other ifistaltations just so fast and no faster ire the aval following day the 162a probed the defile .to maintain
earth of Bulk Island. \i does nor reveal the real throb pressure on the enemy but. made m gains. Attempts to
of exurernmt that hung over the beaches all day as the . make an enveloping movement over the ridges also
cats seemed to dig. scoop and shovel harder and faster faded. Meanwhile, the 186th • pushed ' pauois to the
to the revetnoents on the beach from which the south and west in an effort to discover routes leading
Public Pom?jn t Gpogl^Tdigitjiz.ecI / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
I 86 VMWF AND 5.Q m. 1*?P &*.*, PtfiCHEC
Of "fi'f-OGC 5 JUNE AHEft f N; blrNTc'R»N3
WEAK RESISTANCE. tH<S POACt ON T.i^NF.
( AUNi'HEp ATTACK FROM B<Oft£ . SECURED
WOK MS R DPUMC AND FORMED A BEACHHEAD.
f*0$trU Wtii.LiQX t>*£ CONTINUED 10 FALL
ON IMCS'^iP LCVi AT NIGHT. U^OLR F<RE.
LANDED * ANK C AND SUF^UEE-. EVACUATED
TM£ WOUNDED.
PARAl OiEFlLE
WbKMERr CAVES
S80EWA
>: C"N ■AiT' T i V AAl t< HE'D S JUNE TO OPEN UP
A ■Bf'Oi /• -NL't'.OE-b SUPPL Y *‘00 KE I*
0P RPOS VANCE PCJNUnUCO TO EX«ST HP -
7 WEEN WOKMf.P AND fBQ< •
%omm
ting onto the drome, but after about one and a half
hours the Japs opened up on them with artillery, mor-
tars and machine guns from the high ridge along the
beach and from the high ground in what was called
the Sump Hole Area, on the left flank of the Yanks.
These enemy weapons were well camouflaged in dense
over the coral ridges to the Mokmer drome. Except for
these patrols there was no activity on 6 June.
On 5 June the 186th Infantry, with the 2d Battalion
of the I62d Infantry attached, moved to the eastern
bases of the ridges dominating Mokmer strip where
they reconn oitered throughout the following day. A co-
ordinated attack, which resulted in the capture of Mok-
mer strip and the establishment of a beachhead south
of the strip, was launched on 7 June.
Artillery fire had been laid down on the strip before
the jumpoft and by 0850 the leading battalion was on
the beach. The troops encountered no opposition get-
scrub growth and well protected, as later determined,
by defilade or by emplacement in caves. This intense
fire continued for about four hours after which it de-
creased when Allied artillerymen and mortarmen used
the muzzle blasts to direct their own fire on the enemy.
The artillery also began to fire on the two dromes that
Go gle
lie D oma in, Google-_digitized / http://www. hathitrust.org/access us e#pd-qooqle
1.
162D INF ON COASTAL ROAD AND 186TH INF.
ON ISLAND PLATEAU RESUMED ADVANCE WEST
ON 1 JUNE. RESISTANCE SLIGHT, CONTACT
BETWEEN THESE REGIMENTS ESTABLISHED
NEAR IBDI ON 2 JUNE. CONTACTING BATTAL-
ION OF 162D INF ATTACHED TO 186TH INF.
^ ' ", Vi
v > k ‘ \\\' | ‘ " ' ' 'A ' '[V ' ' ' ' ’ ' '
""
l *' 1 O'".**' Hill ' 1
''lll’V^ J
\ J.I j
SURVEYED FOR DROME
~T-
I
^
A"""!
' . , i 1 * " ,f H »' .<• ' '
J""!/,,,
mmm
OPERATIONS LEADING TO THE
CAPTURE OF MOKMER DROME
PERIOD 1 • 12 JUNE
0 V2 1
MILES
Map 15
lay beyond Mokmer. It was to be many weeks before
these were to be captured but the softening up process
had already begun.
Word reached the l62d Infantry that the 186th had
reached the Mokmer drome. After another unsuccess-
ful attempt to break the enemy blockade at the Parai
Defile, amphibian craft carried elements of the 3d Bat-
talion to a landing point at Parai Jetty on 7 June, thus
by-passing the defile which had held up the advance.
The landing was completed during the afternoon but,
due to the limited number of personnel employed in
this movement and the strong enemy resistance, it was
impossible for the 3d Battalion to make any headway
for an attack on the defile.
Some attempt was made during the afternoon to
reinforce both the 3d Battalion of the l62d Infantry
and the 186th Regiment. Two tanks and Cannon Com-
pany did get ashore at Parai, but accurate heavy fire
at Mokmer prevented LCMs and LSTs from landing
until after nightfall. Then tanks and supplies were
landed and the wounded evacuated. Many of the craft
were hit during this period. Throughout the day the
186th Infantry had 14 men killed and 68 wounded.
The 1st Battalion, l62d Infantry, by-passed the Parai
113
Digitized by
Gougle
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Col***! flo0i*^*7t, jeconrf from hfi, 3d BaHolfan, I62d Infanirp, p/c?nj
nav -pffadc crgakis} Jap tflilgilpffpff* fiefe:
Defile and £d lowed the M Battalion ashore at Parai the Mokmer drome near the beach. bight Americans
on H June, The 2d Battalion of the L62d Infantry, paid, the supreme penalty while 42 of the enemy had
which was attached to the l$6th Infantry, began to fought the last time for the glory of the Emperor,
move y-ekitwa-rd tron^ Mokmer drome on 9 June and The beachhead was firmly estabUshed hy-9 June and
with hi parent unit thereby opening early that morning amphibian Buffaloes brought m am-
a sorely needed supply route following contact be- munition and supplies and evacuated the wounded,
tween the 1st and 2d Battalions, the latter reverted to Patrolling war begun row ard the high ground to the
H?2d control. north of the drome by Company B, whkh using
Meanwhile, ut the 186th sector, Organization of the barrel grenades and flamethrowers to dean out nurner-
brad: continued acid' defensive tires were coordinated,, nu$ caves in the vicinity of Mokmer. The beachhead
The regiment: was harassed by enemy patrols and mor- area still was being plastered with heavy artillery and
tar fue and it was noted that following the moriar ftre mortar fire.
the enemy *ern trained dogs to locate Allied positions, Cxmipames 0 and C of the Uftkh and the 1st Battal-
Several dogs moved to within a hundred yards or the ion command group took up the destruction of the
id Iteration position on the beach, south of Mokroer en£m) position encountered the previous day north
drome. Some of the dogs stopped and barked w hile of Mokroer drome by Company B. An artillery barrage
others approached the outposts and, whhour making preceded the attack; and continued until 1035. The
a Sound, trotted off to the west The enemy then ad- advance w as to the west' with two companies abreast,
vanced and built up a line -behind, the dogs. -Company ft on the ridge and Company C on the right
.That -night the japs {punched a heavy attack aceom- on the tableland. By 1 100 both companies were under
pa rued by the usual blood-curdlVng baffle cries. A few heavy fire An houi later Company C detected a large
of the enemy infiltrated Hie A Ibedf position* and bayo- number of the enemy moving around tH north flank
neted a few- men. Hand grenade^ were used eflecnvely and killed 22 of them. The balance .of the group con-
fo b'nhvSKles. The, follow mg morning. while still firmed moving easr on 'Company C$ rear,. Rocket
under heavy lire, the Americans huned then dead on launcher and tank 71mm tire played on the enemy posi-
Japants « tonkt^uted vofoqciiifyUf a&pfnjif.. tramps ■ '*■? ■tb*-41v AVW»«$* .9 ft QWtkt/ p*/} <H dot. ocf/oo bf Allied, gtinfit* c lit. fb* -tint tank
♦'fl'jj opam^w* in Ibe Pacific
for two hjtws. syirh-ft& effect: 1 be probing units, to the ridges north of Mokmer. The Id Battalion. f £2d
reSv.-. :'a,>id .th'e '.arfijjery faul down fircv f:te~ infantry. moving- along the ridge just north of the
meats of the V62d Infantry relieved the i.Rbrh troops drome, met stiff resistance from jappiilbox'ey and con id
apd the Litter moved to the Mokmcr drome. The 3d nor maintain' Che -advance, with the other battalions. By
Battalion; aided by armor, continued the destruction of 12 June, the 2d Barrahou,. T62d. and the .IH6th Regi-
es ve* along the sideline and rhe 2d Battalion. H>2d men r reached -their objective The 3d Bartubom U?2d.
Infantry, moved east with no resistance: Nine more was unable to proceed west, along the ridge until Corm
tanks were attached to rhe 186th. Enemy long-range paoy L made a flanking movement ro the north and
machine-gun lire proved quite annoying to the engi- dislodged the Japs from the crest of the- ridge. One
neers working on the drome and Mu&\ increased to such smalt pocket of resistance ' rema ined *• between • p>m pa ny
an extent that work was halted, not to be resumed for L and its parent urut but this was eliminated during the
ten days. Enemy artillery still wa$ operating from deep, following day. Meanwhile,-' shortly after noon on 12
defensive territory but had more of a harassing effect June, Word came that the jap positions in the defile
than the deadly fire of previous days, area between Pa rai Jetty arid Ibdi had been reduced and
Elements of the 16 2d Infantry continued to by pass the defile now was open to traffic,
the Para i Defile and joined the regiment at Pa rai. The The 2d Battalion. t62d, moved north and tcwyk up a
2d and 3d Battalions began to move west toward Mfdo position, on the ridge on 13 June. The 2d and 3d Bat-
mer drome while the -1st Battalion defended the Para» ’. tu lions. 56 2d .Infantry, cried to reduce the resistance
jetty area and applied pressure to the defile from the between -them, and made short advances despite deter-
west; The movement to Mokmcr drome was slow and mined resistance. The 1st Battalion dispatched patrols
required a full day. The Coastal corridor still was sub- *w(h front h* position on Mokmcr drome In an effort
jeered to jap fire and the two battalions bad to move to Uxate possible routes of advance' foe a proposed
along the coast under the shelter of cliffs. This necev wide envelopment by that battalion. The 1st Battalion,
si tided moving- in a column of tiles, and men waded 162J. moved north via a trail through the 3d Battalion,
through surf that was waist-deep at hfi>b tide, Ar
’A: 3U*g*on anti bit ouislantt apt fat a omr a joiditt for tHrx/pntl wovndt
o( iht 26fh Per* able HospHaipty Biot . \\\\' f ' *V.V/.\ *
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BLOODY BIAK
i&2d, The Ut Batt^ion, I86th v moved north beyond
the 1st ' Bat ta hpn, \$2 4, , a it d these two units turned
west and made a im^dinated attack in a west and
southwest direction .
■Thi$ ' .attack Tout inued through I A June but due to
rough terrain and enemy •resistance it did not progress
as rapidly as had been planned, .Out mg the night the
Jap$> Using tanks* but these attacks were re*
pel led However, the 1st Battalion, 1626, suffered
many casualties. On this date the !62d Regiment
reached t he main enemy defense know n as West Caves
while the f 86th Infantry Continued patrol! ing toward
BorOkoe drome and the area south to the coast .line.
The situation' on H June found the two regiments
deployed abreast with the 3d Battalion, 186th, on the
left or coastal Hank. North of this unit wore the 2d
Battalion, 186th; 2d Battalion, i62d; ^d Battalion.
KC'd; 1st Battalion, l62d and the Hr Battel ton. 1 86th,
whiSt^eld thr right or inland Hank.
Prompted by an Air Corps report of probable at
tempts by thg japs to send reinforcements to B?ak and.
by the marked signs of fatigue among the trtxvps, Gem
era! fuller, commander of the Biak forces, requested
another regiment as -reinforcements.- General Krueger
placed little credence/ in .the Jap's ability Ui strengthen
ins Bidk garbson, but nevertheless 'he. sent the 34th
I nfamry of the 2*tth Division to Biak where it arrived
cm 18 June.
Betcause of the slow progress being made on B.*ak
and the failure to secure the airdromes at ah early date,
as directed, General Fuller was relieved as comxhjander
of Hurrkafie Task Force. Continuous heavy fighting*
Opg< of 'a war -day platoon aided Jungtojrf In flu thing p or itapf on Biaic
coupled with extremely difficult terrain, intense hear
and the scarcity of water had tired the task force troops
to a cnticai degree and was largely respoFisible for the
delay. The situation at Bmk indicated that the success
of future opecafrons- was riteatened General F.fbteT
berger replaced General Fuller t3rv 15 June and three
days later General Fuller, at his own request, -also was
relieved, from command of the. 41st Division .and was
replaced by General Doe, who. subsequently received.-
hB second star, \n a final statement to the officers and
men whom he bad led overseas and through many
months of bloody combat. General Fuller gave Ins
tharfks fbr cteff efforts and pnusgd tbc Suxm4 Diwioii
as one of the finest group of men he had ever com-
manded. With General Fuller's departure the Jun-
gleers lost an excellent and highly admired soldier but
tn General Dae the men got a worthy successor..
In & sense; 17 June marked the halfway in the
Biak CicmpiMgil, Altbdgtgh weeks of x oiriba t lav ahead,
tiie prirruvty objective. Mokme.r drome, had been seized
aUhough it had not been fully secured. Secondly,, the
initial phase Of the campaign was past That phase
sviiere enemy afp, naval and ground arms could still be
coordinated in carry mg out prearranged tactics defi-
nitely was over True; there still W^ .bombmg attacks
but these were htbstJy of u harming ftatureand about
the only naval action was to be the despatching of a.
submarine, to Biak near the end of the campaign, m a
fefite effort to evacuate some of the defeated elements
Men of a j Igna) company lay o tubmarine cob I* from 8 iak to Qwi Uiond
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PLAN FOR 4 1ST DIV. ATTACK
- BlAK ISLAND - s ,
19 june '':r
ynuu,, t
RIDGE TO BE
OCCUPIED
RIDGE TO BE
OCCUPIED
r /fft
MENOEBABOE
’.S SBOERIA
Original frorr^r. : ' ■
UNIVERSITY Of' MICHIGAN
.Digifj^.by
PubJ^-DQm^ir
Surgeons of the 26lh Portable fiospiial perform o delicate brain operation on 0 4l*t Omtioh ioldfrr *o me where on tiok.
of the enemy force. Last; and by no means the least The 186th had moved east along the coast after land-
signifkaiit was the change m command and the intro* ing and the move to the drome necessitated a long
duction of more fresh 'troops mto the fight. match over very difficult terrain. Heavy fighting was
At the time .General Eichelberger rook over, the cohtmuOMS, the water supply was aft teal and many men
ground situation was as follows: were close to the point of exhaustion.
Shortly after the landing the «h2d Infafu/y had ap- After the 1 86th seized Mokmer drome ii- relaxed, hut
preached Mokmer drome by a drive* along the coast only momentarily. Although it had pushed through
but had failed to seen re the drome so that it could, be . the high ground north of the dtnme, it failed to secure
used. This unit had extended its lines without obtain- the drome .if rec capturing it, The japs again occupied
ing control of the dominating ndgeic along the tmsf tht t'ni ges and bmu'ght the drt^e and its captors under
As a i esfijjt its $ank was attached al tfie Narrows, a fire, This halted wofh on fife ;drPmka n.d the 1 86th
point in the vicinity of Mokmer Village at which the. pivoted .ta face the Jap positions, m a northeasterly
high coastal ridge extended almhit to tire sea. While vhmViofi, Several frontal attacks- were unsuccessful. ..
advance unite of the H>2d Infantry Were ivjthdfawri by After ttorganimiu*} following its Narrows engage
water and by overland movement rhe situation was meor, the Uwd moved up »o the uail leading northwest:
countered when the 1 86th Irkfahtr^ north of of -.Mokm.er drome and reached -the ‘Sump Holes; This
: Bo^pek, # then- west where it siomid' regimept attempted . several; • frontal. attacks bur w as
the north and northeast denied success.
Publjc ,Qpp ; aii^£^^ / h4:tp://www.hatbitrust.org/acce ; ss_use#pd-google
Digits
Go gle
■UNIVEF
. OrigiVta fftfwr
StTY OF
ICHJGAN
The 41 ki Signol Company enjoys lb* First beer roti an issued fo Jungleers on biak.
it Bo&fiek on 27 May it took About mid- morning contact .was made with the 3d
enemy, in the Bah^Uon , I62ci K,epm.mvt: Du ring this ij^aick the jun-
his .mftsioh. : vy&$> enlarged to fleers, had l 3 men killed and >5 \vouhd^<i- a?yd?k$ed
Bosraek as far avP^f Tcwn, 62 of the enemy. While this gap was being closed, the
istfid. of patrolhug aiici mop- 1st Battalion, i62d Infantry, was pinned down by. fire
H coastal Trade arM securing from the battle raging cm its left dink and could nor
&.sn'ek : .; wiifcfi: .tlxe; ; : mover *
* do Mokmer drc«tiey "The 3d Patrolling toward the Bofokoe and $cg$^’ frames
hf%d mnved c>Vetlahd io the took place durmg the next few days and plans were
Tiatfl. defenses, and succeeded laid for a coordinated attack to be launched on 19 June.
* the crest of Hill 520. This This rccjuired reorganisation withm all units The* mis-
terrain feature within the si an of this attack was to envelop the enemy tight
r of the dromes and afforded (south) flank, seize the high ground north of Mokfrier
ii $ move evidently rook the drome and occupy the ridge) ine erne thousand yards
east of 15omko^ dawe. Tfefe hsc move was- to pave the
oiling toward Rorokoe drome way tor the a thick on Bonykoe god Sorido dromes.
y registered on this objective. the Lbyd Infantry was directed to increase the tempo
, relieved the 2d Battalion, of its, patrol activities and to locate and engage enemy
n order to dose the gap that forces within us area Rom the number of caves holes
days between 2d Battalion, and precipices . ir was evident that the Japs Were free
T that regiment to the north- to choose the location of their positions at will. The
ap got under way on 1$ June, enemy's main strength umld be shifted to counter any
itc Edward , Morales single* localized attack that the American forces might make-
ascy emplacement containing To prevent any shift of enemy strength pride to the
ceding toward another when. T9 June attack, the 5d Battalion, )f*3d Infantry, was to
Ptivate Morales made a one- hold us position in the vicinity of die Sump Holes In
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
TO CAVE 5'x 10'xlO'
THE SUMPS -BIAK ISLAND
\ TENT
^LADDER
HUT
ASSAULTED 22 JUNE, 44
REDUCED 27 JUNE - SCALE 1" = 100'
Mop 79
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
A g»p*rai yi«W of' the 93d Hoxphal ot*c on Owi, jusi off Siak
positions while tfe 2d ^nd 3d Ba&tliQhS Of the. l&?d forward add sprayed sniper positions With flame-
Infantry would bo on the low ground: to the south in throwers. Freed from sniper trouble and supported by
..defend ye - pt^irfeiKe. The , 3d Battalion, ] 63d. would two Sherman tanks, the infantrymen reached points tin;
Be on the high ground to the north, and; west of the the western lip of the Sumps f mm which they could
enemy. fire and 'throw grenades into the entrance of the cave;
Prior to the attack on tO June a preparation was laid As eiiemv soldiers ran out they were riddled with bul-.
down by T 2- inch mortars. and artillery. The 2d Bat- lets, Horvevec, the: main cave entrances were shielded
talfon. 186th. Infantry, was the assault .unit. There was bv stalagmites and stalactites and wire firmly held,
no rtWfSfanCe encountered uhrif the lead companies* Cave i at the Western end of theSntnps was attacked
E and F f began advancing up the ridge and were on 21 June and tank fife and flamethrowers were
greeted by mortar fire. By 1 1 30 these two companies, brought to bear on its mouth. To add further to The
wde an the objective While Gmipany G covered the enemy's distress, five large drum In is of gasoline were
rear The • 3d Battalion dTdh.oved'ihe'id and Companies poured into the xave Through - die crevices and seepage
K and L occupied the northern 'half; of the objective point? on top of the cave md their ignited. Explosiom
while:' Company f profited fbm rear. The attack was roared throughout the following day and it was be-
4 reomplete; fcitemy • #fas : .QVec&^ to the Ikvfid, itot the: fife- had readied dig . kihmwijbm
north Of the: Sump Holes, T he \& Battalion, V6&L An attack against a second cavi position faded and
Regiment-, engaged the enemy at the eastern end of the rhe Jungieers pulled back for the night and -t. 2- inch
Sumps during the 186th infantry attack while the re- mortars took up fhe fight.
m^hider of the l62d Regiment stood fast. It was-. That mghr the japs made an effort h> readt Korim
becoming more and rmre apparent that the Sumps were Bay, The story was told by a Jap prisoner who said
the key position in the' Jap defense north of the dromes, that Colonel Kuzame* commander of the Japanese 232d
Destruction of the Sump Hole area and seizure of Infantry, held a ceremony in the main Sump Cave
Sorido Village was next on the agenda The attack at&SOftoo 22 June. He urged all able-bodied soldiers
got under, way at 0630 or» 20 June when the. 34th. to attempt a withdrawal to the north using any pos-
In fan try of the 24th Division ante, red- the fight.. This stole means Documents then * weie destroyed and the
unit took the Sor i do ami Barokoe dsomes and occupied gasetone soaked regimental- colors were homed. The.
Sonde Village against moderate resistance. Meanwhile, japs tried a suicidal effort to break through the 186th
the I62d Regiment continued operation in the Sump lines. Twice heavy machine guns broke up the attack
Hole area. The Is? Battalion moved m the surface of m the: eatl'y stages, but in the third attempt the enemy
the caves and killed many, japs by dropping drums of peffet the Inner defenses and engaged - m ■ fund-to- '
gasoline into the caves and • -igniting it with .high. - hand coriibat, using bayonets and grenades.. During the
explosives. Late in the afternoon the attacking units night M3 japs were killed white the '86fh had one
withdrew af$rr bdog unsuccessful in attempts to redded' man killed, this occurring when a jap jumped into a
the Sump caves. ' . sol diet’s foxhole and heed a grenade which killed both
The fojiowing day the 1st Battalion again sent troops men. later that morning .the lip of the Surnp was
to the Sumps; preceded by two patrols . on the high secured.
ground art • eaclv. ;-sfde ; of; die Sump Hole area Audv Several experutjedts had been tried m the reduction
matte and smalbarms fife Towered Ad df the Sump caves, but none. ■ was ftp effective as the
J^gj
W
f b
\ K *- --SS*#** s "■ C ^7-t;
sSwgill
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust,org/a£cess^use#pd-goqgle
INSIROM
•liUy
ON 28 jUNE THE 16 fNF ASSUME 0 RESPON-
SIBILITY FOR PROTECTION OF WEST FLANK OF
THE TASK FORCE AND Th£ 341H »Nf, ADVANC-
ING NORTH, OVERRAN A HOSTILE STRONG POINT
BY THE FOLLOWING DAY THE 341h INF HAO
KTLIEO 196 JAPANESE IN REOUC’NG THE CEN -
TER Of RESISTANCE IN THE CAVES AREA
SORIDO
2d BN. 163 INF. CO f '• CANOED AT kOR«M
ON NORTH COAST 3 AUGUST. |TL PATROLS,
OPFRAT1NG SOUTH, CONTACTED PATROL
from somoo village on id august.
OPERATIONS AT BIAK
20 JUNE - 10 AUGUST.
MILES
Digitize Go gle
Original from
jk'V.U.i
CAVES AREA
V"'%
JUNE; 16
HAD t?FOUCfci> At i PtS STANCE
IN NWhMDt t Af-fA Jft PAW it St S&CAPl NS NORTH FROM
IHtSAMA ATTACHES IBfcm *NF . IHtPiNG tiifiHT OF
-■1 • JUNO, «V.MT.N J\l$ ENEMY WORE KUt£0 ON?
SQUADRON OP < J 40v SfOAN: OPERATIONS f RftV
MOKMCR L)ROME ON A2-JUbi£
*'*. M »
«’* mi tftiv'
'NV S
’MVW
/// / i
WESTERN CAVES
iS3><i ONP i>P_U?<;u.O THf MOKMER
O AVPA ON' 4 JtU.y )He. iH'Pl ,
L ON ?EJ
* • *ji
''•XltMUh',,
• 1 *■«)#
• • mI M IMif,
S80ERIA
MOKMER
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generally flat terrain
163 C
163 B
itl it .
* tt'
' "* 't'fltltUi'l
'ttfthtjn
2 PLATOONS
nirfiit 4 1 * * '
'
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SOENGGARAI
JETTY
PARAI
ATTACK OF 163 INF. 26-27 JUNE
BIAK ISLAND
DUTCH NEW GUINEA
t WMM CMM WiM i i III m wtfl
tijgi^izetl.fry
gle
Original from -
UMVE’RSlTTOF MICHIGAN
BLOODY B1AK
charge of dynamite lowered Wto Jhtxme
bv a y^freh and fired deettfejly hy the engineers, Tgw
Japs survived this explosion, and of those who did
many were driven insane;
A systematic redrtebon of. the Yfves was tarried out
using tank fire, explosives and ikin^ethrow'Crs tty . 27
June the last lap had been killed within the Sump neb
woiT and the Allied hoops entered the ihnei* recesses
of the caves where they found considerable- quantifies
of equipment. Living -eonditioDS in those last few days
must have been unbeatable as the smell of rotting
bodies permeated the tunnels and inner chambers, -by
the end of 23 Jcme-n&ylp aH 'o er|$ny resist-
a nee had^^sed hat^cafiered opposition was memn-
tered • --Y ;: * ’ 1 3 ; - '
With the. West Gives completely wiped • out,' atten-
tion. was" turned to the enemy pockets ut the ridges
north of Mokrner and Sbdi Towns. The 163d Infantry,
less its id ; Battalion, had been patrolling the ridges
between Fajrai and War we. The enemy situation had
developed as follows:
On 2i June, Company T, \ 63d Regiment, began an
attack to the southwest from its location on the high
ground northwest of Ihdb About orte a/cd a half miles
northwest of Ihdi it ran into strong resistance, The
unit bad missed the enemy outposts and when it opened
.fire if received fire from three directions, Other ede-
tuenfs Of the 103d Infantry were due north of this
position on a piece of high ground and observed the
fire, Heavy machine-gun fice from this position evi-
dently led the Japs ' to believe tfef ; th£y were being
attacked by a force of con side 'able size arid they opened
up all along their positions on the high ground to the
north. During dm barrage. Company f withdrew to
Molor maintenance was always (mpoilapi, and itoaps improvised grease
racks like this an* io make */r« job a lltfte easier in rb<? jangles cl
New Guinea.
fi p mu along the ridge which 'if could hold; One pi a
toon remained in that location to prevent any move to
the east and the remainder of the company moved back
to Ihdi Town,
Throughout 22 ; md 23 June the' jap' positions, along
the ridge were subjected, to harassing artillery fire and
on 24 June the enemy position was bhmbed by twelve
&2.5T TrOm fhe an.; it was observed that the fHain
. . >dcf Ve • vpc^Jif^ ; was apparently in a. large
cylindrical hole yvith cac^s leading off from its side
On this dote, the 163d pariicipateri in a coordinated
attack with the remainder of the TJfer Division to seize
the ridge' extending from a pcmUnOrUnve^ of Ibdi to
a point north of. Mokrner V diage. The 3d Battalion;
163d 'Infantry. had been Under control of the -U st Dho
sion bur was released to the regiment and placed in
reserve, occupying a position ifo the trail north t»f
Mandnm
Ip order to facilitate the atamiplishment of the regi
mental mission, it was decided to eliminate the enemy
strongpcuht north \vest ; oi It'd, which had been under
artillery and a end 1 bom bardrneru . The maneuver was
to be an enveloping movement. The 1 st Battalion,
atftcltmg from north and mnhweit,; and CorppiftiT ly
^tracking from the &>qth\vesL were to he the assault
elements; while Corripuay Cf occupied % position co the
east where it could block md hold;' . 3 Y : . Y;YYY
Mpn of Headquarters Company, 1&6th Infante/, eai z,hpw q( the Iron* lines
-d’.-.'.a On &iak~ •
#:'m r ,
« AMBAIKABOES
<wm"
! h. it/V’ %* y ■&$*!? ‘ <m ' v
m ,, ' /jf -v.* H,; - '*‘"4 .
,‘* y t OARMARWS
OERKtNAM
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7 s*(&£*
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'<ivy<^A
fNSIRO
SORipO
KJAMGMEN
r-
MENCffiBABO^
smim
Public Domain, Google-digitizecWhttpT/wwwJiatl^
Map
22
Digitized by Got. -gle
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
THE JUNG LEERS
Left: A for cry from the modern post office bock homo, buf It serves the purpose *n ff»«* jvnglM pi Guinea »here a soldier starts a registered
letter hotiutwaid. Bight- these men help q machine gunner aver a steep ridye whde advancing into cpn'uat an Biok
After a heavy {uepatutory fire the a? nick was A company of infantrymen from the 16 Rccimen.t
launched at (HlO on 26 June. It ?s significant to note v as given the mission of reducing tins position- but by
that. this attack was htupched before daylight/ a move 27 June had met w,tfh lift I e success. Several fire fights
tore infrequently attempted by American forces in juro took ptaee but their results were unobserved. On 21
gig /fighemgf .The re^t was highly . sstM^lbry and June- the japs shelled the highway and again. halted
completely surprised the enemy. Many enemy forward traffic on the main road. Twelve IMos took to the air
positions which normally were occupied during day and for one hour bombed and strafed the position. At
light hours were found unmanned, this factor being- the completion of this strike silence reigned over the
an aid to rhe fungteers during the initial stages of the enemy’s. stronghold and later the. ebfi positions were
attack. Later a senes of enemy emplacemeots-Z^Welt entered By 4 July they werf cfctired- '
organised, in depth and protected by heavy sniper fire, ft was on 27 June that General Lichelherger's I Corps
were found. The close of the day's fighting found rhe Headquarters wav ordered' back tv? Hulkmdu and com*
regiment' in position as indicated on map 2\ mam! of Hurricane Force was handed over to General
By the end of 27 jane/ Company F had moved to a Doe. By tins nine fife situation pn Biak had become
position adjoining the Company Cr area, and was assist* stabilized and the complete enemy dispositions were
ing the latter in blind/ ng and holding. Slight. advances known. All organised pockets of resistance were under
were made, by the attacking farces during the day and cons him attack £hd moppmg up act mugs were being
they were prepared to carry on the attack die following- conducted in the West Caves and f the area west of
day hi jhe meantime, h w;is known that the Mokmer Moknier drome.
Pocket (or Fast C9ve}sfrij was occupied by the enemy. The i62d Infantry was ordered fo relieve the Gib
This position was located in the Jiffs north of Mok Infantry in place on 28 June and by 1 July had corn-
mcr Town, and though seldom active, it remained a pleted this move. The mission was a defensive one*
potential threat to traffic on the road to the airdromes, to secure the western sector of ihc Division .-.defense-
On one occasion the -road bad to be closed when the area to prevent enemy interference with the develop*
Japs placed mortar fire on the shoulder* of the road. menfc and operations of the drome and dump areas.
Patrol activities were carried out by this regiment
through 9 July.
ITt&e ted#WdPb of cleaning upKaftered amis of Japs
was so successful that by 9 July the ordy /ifgufLized
enemy resistance \yas the pocket l J0V -yards north of
Ibdb For' 'two ' flits/ ipdykef/oame under aerial
.attacks, arid then one company of the Tfifol
^ entered it from the eusL This uvdfe ^ js haired by heavy
fire and resistance remained .fittm until, 32 July when a
terrific bomba rdrnent was laid down by B-24S, mortars
arid; artil \qxy.: Two , companies . from the 3d Battalion,
The 1 06th - infancy s •' 'Vabbft '• served" s makes Japy out ci o pillbox nvar
Mokmer Airdrome.
Publi c Domai n. Gooale-diaitized / http://www.hathitru5t.orq/accgss .-use#pd-goQgle
mmt)Y hiak
I 65 J launched a coordinated attack and by
fold broken rdj organized resistance. Until
took place one company of the *4 Itattaifotf
jr^matoed in cw&mt ; contact wfth the enemy*' slowly
|||jf| /educing pillboxes w if h the aid-cd burookas, artdicry
\vmj mortars. During tin* fight 152 japs were killed
while only two sarfendeted,, Mopping up continued in
the Ibdt pocket until 26 July.
Patrol activity v^s\o>i nduc;ted in all sectors and on
15 July' the .VHh Infantry left B/ak to rejoin its parent
unit* the 4:4th Divisipti., at Holiaudia.
The. 2d fiafiaUon, 1 63d infantry, moved by LCM& m
Konm Ray on J August &tid parols, began to operate
south, east md west form K#>rim Village., The MBav-
talkm, 162d Infantry, Is^er joined iawese inofiping up
actrYftfe. T „ ; ’ / ; '
The (st ffettaiitai, l#<5tli Inhtmrjv aided by navai-
gun 6ce and air- the
souti)\vestern coast of but; The landing was uti op-
posed and patrolling continued until the campaign
! officially' fenninared on 20 August.
| ■ c . . ■'
|
Cofotwl on?* * r. Nevhrfrifi IcerttorK CO, Iniofftry, ond If.: Gen.
frefcairf l tichcfbetper, CG ot 1 Corpt, gft tfti lotos* detar'is on ib&
Wghl lor A4olr/nsr Airdrome from front -tin* troops
Digitized by
Go, gle
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Public Domain, Google-digitized ji ttp;// 1 www.hathjtru^t,prg/access_use#pd-google
ORIENTATION MAP
41ST DIVISION
IN RECONQUEST
OF THE
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
axst Div operations
OPERATIONS BY
OTHER UNITS
P C W) marinduque
A1ST DIV
STAGING AREA
LEYTE
PANAY
80H °i®r
SU L U
MINDANAO
BALA8AC,
DAVAO,
STRAIT
b At abac
16 MA«
ZAMBOANGA
rBASILAN
JOLO 1
BRITISH
north
SANGA SANGA
BORNEO
UNIVERSITY
N'ICHL
Digitized by
Public Do ma Ln v G oog I e-d i gjti zed.,.,/. .ti tjp;//w.w w .Ji a t,h i tru^t org/accgss^us.e #pd
w 13: Return to the
ines
Nfiyol units gather in o harbor fb carry 4fst Oir'nipn troops off on a ne*v fnvoifon effort ogotps} ihi Japt
0 rig iriBi' frorn :
UNIVERSITY OF;mCH!GAN :
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VAv Xv ^^V ^.VA*- - - -
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BUSUANCA i
i
CUUAfi 1 . Ns
|fc TAYTAY
^V’ OUMARAN I
PUERTO
PRINCESA
p j
(OOKES
|UGSU K
PANOANAN IS.
BALABAC IS.
ENEMY ORDER OF BATTLE
41 ST DIV. ATTACK PLAN
Digitized by Goi gle
UNI
Original from
^SITY OF MICHIGAN
Jungltfvu h&odtd for an invasion hav « breakfttsi aboard an 1ST.
In announcing the new$- which electrified the Pacific There was some cmftimn during rhe landing, because
Northwest, General Mac Arthur said, 'The enemy, en- of poor beaches. However, since no opposition was
grossed in operations. eHewhere, again failed to .diag-- encountered the landing forces were quickly consoli-
nose our plans and properly prepare hrs defmftfo* jtiii- dated. The 1st Battalion, I86tlv dnhantn\ furnished,
gleet losses ' were tin'fioaficed as ‘ very light/ the assault waves.
Much had transpired between the departure from The assault battalion pushed- inland af .a r$pid pace
Biak -and the day when the IS&h Regiraema l Combat and moved onto- the airstrips. By u'O o it had passed
Team, commanded by Colohdt O P„ Newsman, stormed and secured the first phase tine, and the; reserve hate!'
ashore on Palawan. Lite in January 1945, troops began ion had. come ashore. The 2d Battalion was moving
to brave: 8iak, headed ostensibly f oe Lu tfm. By 9 Feb- very" slow])’ but as as cjdsing in do Puerto Pcincesa.
ruary the outfit had arrived at Mmjow where, ristaged Shortly after noon it crossed (he second phase line,
in the San . Jose area. The planning phase for the Victor poured over the runways of the airdrome and was
HI operation was completed by 24 February. seven days patrolling north of the third phase line. L^te that after
after the activation of the force. Brigadier General. . noon ail areas within the third phase line had been
Harold Bancyy Assistant Division Commander of the ‘Secured and patrols v/e.re’ ^g?tjnamg diet* Activities.
41st Division, syas placed in command of . the force The town of Puerto Princess fell to the 2d Battalion
whose mission was to take Palawan. Personnel and ar 12A9.
equipment were loaded by 25 February, and at 1700 The airfields were found n? be unserviceable due to
the following day tlie eighty slup convoy departed from the p/e binding bocnhardmerits m<& the town was found
Mindoro', arriving cn Puerto Prtoem Bay in the early to be seventy-five pet eenti desfreiyed, although the
houf$ of. 2^ , February. dock* wfteted fottjed^
The Thirteenth Air Force and naval units laid down taken, to the hills, and d was: evident that he never
a bombardment/ amj at 084 5. following a ten-minute intended to defend Puerto ; Princes* since no military
rocker barrage. the assault waves stepped ashore on installations. other than afo raid shelters, were found.
White; Beat h i, just west Of Bancaob^ncap Pomt on the’ The 2d Bateupu, less Company G, made j. shore* to-
north side of the entrance to Puerto Princesa harbor, shore landing at the mouth of the Iwahig River, across
Us
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■ *'«£> VRt t/W
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CL
TINABOG
o' - babuya_n_/
Mrr, MT BAHELI
CHICKEN I
CASTILLO PT.
LTAPUL
SPRAT PT.,
#jj§i&
.8UGUIASI
FONDEADO
"WT.BACUNGAN,
if BUSH i. rag
•MANGROVE Rft2T
MEARA is.
BLUFF PT
ARRECifE l
MT.
HERSCHEL
mMAKESI I
MOXWi HAY
RAMESAMEY I
MT. BEAUFORT V,
TAG8UROS
THUMB PK. lf.
IRAHUAN
'/CANiGARAN
(S StuuelII
■mtiWY
JWAH1G
PENAL COLONY
tayely
PUERTQ ..PRINCES*
H3ANCA0 Pt
BANASTARAN Pt
m BINUNSAUAN BAR
T/ .
tTABLEKEAD
INAGAHUAN
7MBARUNIS PT.
ISAUB
' ^^f 'MAASIN PT.
^VILLAGE BAY
fjPUNLAGI.
LANDING SITE
MALANAO
ISLAND
CUTTER PT
I
Order of Baffle for Vicfor III and IV.
Digitized by C^ouoie
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
ffameAt; of the 4isi Division idad of -Pumttct; Pfin-i**©/. p/f- Poh.wah, and advance along o road eight miles from the port fit/ tawaf
where the Japs or* rep otfed hiding. A radio jeep maintains contact with the forward elements of tf)e tampan/
the bay from Puerto Princeia, at 1700 - Once again about fifty. Japs, well $ug in and on iOfemanding
there was no opposition and the landing force moved ground on the fra tag trail west of Tagbu ros. Artillery
inland and secured the area adjacent to: the. Iwahig and mortar fire was directed on this position tut
Penal Colony. Some -bombs hid-fail'efi-id tins area but the attack could be pressed further, the enemy with-
damage was slight. The airfield that had once existed drew under the covet of darkness. Another Company
near the penal colony had almost vanished in the dense II patrol had a fire fight south of bafr&g, killed thirteen
secondary growth,. ^ japs and knocked out a machine gun. Meanwhile the
A Company J outpost on Cmigaran Point killed a 3 d Battalion, which was the hst to land, advanced in-
Jap during the night of 28 February to mark the first land to Tagbtuos, It encountered heavily .mined roads
known contact with the enemy, It was decided ffet the and numerous booby traps. The 3 d Battalion sent a
enemy had anticipated the landing and fed. withdrawn motorized patrol north to. contact guerrilla forces at
into prepared positions in the densely wooded and fully Bacangan while otfet patrols tecooBOitefed in all direc-
intesiof t/ons from Tagbucos without contacts A motorized
The second day found the assault forces tanning out patrol from the 2 d Battalion was sent south on the
onto the fer plains beyond the initial objecirives around highway to Abor] an
Puerto Prmcesa Bay The 1 st and 2 d Battalions pa- A guerrilla combat patrol was dispatched from Bn-
r rolled the Irahuan River Valley, wuh the 1 st Battalion cungan to. Babuyan on 2 March to overtake an esti-
moviri^ nfofh from Puerto Princess while the 2 d Bat- mated eighty Japs, who ha<f. moved from Dumafon
faison moved north from Iwabig. The two forces con- Island.
verged on Jruhuan and made contact there around 1300, The first real contact was made with the enemy on
Here m abandoned Jap headquarters was found width this date as the infantrymen reached the foothills on
. , i *- vv** • A vV v K Jhr.r % r 3KvW.- • S
-iHV ' • - .a.. \ vICahv- v»V-*>m«. - , TFo '•■■TiK • * • , , a*
ini
M- | >
yji '* ,
9M!
1 +** k& •• .-'4. it iiiiiiiv i *&mmm 1 .r
c-> , 1 -^k.
Socaose ol fa** I'Ve* an D-day somewhere in the Philippine*, vehicles and troops hod fo wade in,
and hdlidbxtfi'i
Them supply ^xhifJei preheinp. rowed in by tanks
w as opemknul by 20 March.
burns, encountered another enemy strongpoint about which took longer,, but
two miles beyond the town* Companies B and C made Bxcelienr use was made. of the port facifities at Puerto
:a -flanking movement to destroy pillboxes holding up C Princesa and th^ work of the; harbor personnel was well
the 1st Battalion and succeeded in occupying the high organized and efficiently executed,
ground by late afternoon. Some of the enemy again Dumacan Island, off tlx* northeast coast of 'Palawan.;
took advantage of approaching darkness and escaped, was recoin lowered by a party from the i&K platoon on
There xvere some contacts with guerrilla forces during 9 Marche The island was found free of japs, making
the day* one of these being made by a motor teed patrol it more obvious that the enemy I tad completely, abao
at TapuL darted his positions on the east coast of Palawan aod
from Company G tracked down a group of had concentrateii his forces on the west coast Hill T 443
japs entrenched io bilkeip pc^fdoits a haturai waS completely occupied on this date and vigorous
barrier of dense forest north of Jtafag* Company G patrolling continued, By the dose of 10 March; 94 japs
drew fire from Hill. J44f and attacked the po^UiOnsi . had been killed or found dead .while, gh\ y -me. bad . been .
Intense fire wounded the platoon leader and eventually taken prisoner.
forced the patrol to withdraw. Reinforcements were PT boats patrolled Pan dan ar, Island on iO March
requested for anofhet attack, Dtt.ritlg- the night the and shelled the garrison there; The Ja pi returned mor*
enemy tried nnsuc'cessfujly to infiltrate; through the tar and rifle fire and wounded five in the Allied party*.
Company G position. The manner in which the Japs were concentrating on
Poltdwrng an air strike With Napalm bombs and the west coast of Palawan and the fact that a vessel had
GOOD- pounders, and a mortar and artillery barrage, been sighted off the west coast during’ the night of 8-9
Company Q ' assaulted- .the. position on 7 March. The March, hinted rather strongly or an evacuation plan,
attack Was driven back with seven casualties* More Subsequent events — such as the finding of some re
artillery , and mortar barrages rained oh the position but cently constructed boars— proved that a plan possibly
the enemy held. Another attack was planned the fob did exist and n*ay have been partially carried out
lowing day but this never materialised -a# the Japs Pan oiling continued during tin: period from >0 to
abartdoned tfie positron during the night. The 1 86th 18 March The hill areas, to the north and West of
Infantry troops copied; the; hill oh the mparing of 8 frahdan and to the south and West ,of Uvahjg ,w#t?
March and Companies I and K, then pressed toward the combed. The 5 d Battalion worked from Migcaygan m-
coast m the vicinity of Migcauyan, this bdftg done ward and guerrilla patrols .continued north
without further contact with the enemy. Meanwbife and west from Bacungan. The lack of enemy resistance
.smaller pockets of Jap resistance ui the mountains lent, -credence- to the belief that when the Tanks overrun
northwest of Jrahuan and at Jratag had been reduced the enemy on Hill 1 415* they broke thebackbone ox Ins
The primary objectives of the mission had been ae- defense for the area,
com pi ished and dieactivity m the Puerto ftrfficesa area It had been felt that the 18$:h Regimen taf Combat
soon resolved- itself into minor patrolling with very Team might be needed to reinforce the Victor TV opera-
little, contact being made,.. UOh on Zamboanga, and in ;xcordoxe with these plans
It had been planned to' build a dry- weather airstrip* the 1st Battalion departed from Palawan, on 18 March
immediately upon landing but insufficient engineer while the BiUtahon readied itself for departure a
troops prevented; the - execution of this plan. Finally week later: DuHftg tfife period.; p] arts -were made to
work was begun on a permanent, .-all -weather strip, .■.■utilize the 2d Battalion, the Cannori Company and (he
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
142
THE JUNGLEERS
Minesweepers were active in the waters adjacent to
Palawan, clearing the channels so that islands on the
fringe of the mainland could be invaded. A Company
E platoon relieved a Company G platoon at Napson on
the west coast of Palawan on 1 April. This relief was
effected by air with five observation planes being used
for the operation. The men were flown out singly and
the entire movement required three days. The Com-
pany G platoon had been conducting vigorous patrol-
ling on the west coast of Palawan for several weeks and
the long trek across the mountains to the base camp at
Irahuan did not look inviting even though it did mean
a rest.
Extensive patrolling continued and many ambushes
were prepared throughout the island. Company F, rein-
forced, made unopposed landings at Coron, on Busu-
anga Island, on 9 April. No contact was made with the
enemy during the first day. The second day saw three
Japs killed and two more days of patrolling resulted in
the death of seven more. Scattered light resistance con-
tinued through 20 April when elements of the 2d Bat-
talion returned to Palawan to report the Culion Islands
free of Japs.
As the campaign dragged on the 2d Battalion and
the remainder of the United States forces did less tac-
tical work, turning this phase over to the Filipino
troops. This did not mean, however, that the Jungleers
were idle, because the Allies still were a long way from
the front doorstep of Tokyo. A training program was
initiated and strictly adhered to.
Elements of the 2d Battalion did make unopposed
landings on Balabac Island on 16 April and on Pand-
anan Island on 22 April. These landings completed the
liberation of the Palawan Archipelago and placed the
Americans in control of the Palawan group from Min-
doro to Borneo.
The liberation of Puerto Princesa brought to light
an example of one of the most cruel and barbaric atroci-
ties ever committed by any nation. About 1 50 prisoners,
who had been captured by the Japanese in the early
stages of the war, had been confined there and used as
labor gangs. In late 1944 when the Allied noose began
to tighten around the enemy’s throat the prisoners were
herded into two air-raid shelters, which were soaked
with gasoline and ignited. Those attempting to escape
were mowed down with machine guns. Only four men
managed to survive this ordeal by breaking through the
end of a tunnel which led to the open face of a cliff
over-looking the sea. In dropping to the beach below
one man was injured in the fall and later died. The
others were hidden by the Filipinos until they were
recovered by 4 1st Division troops.
Now, in seven assault invasions the veteran 4 1st
Division had, at last, wrenched from the Japanese an
area with some semblance of civilization. The Palawan
Task Force had marched into its first ’modern" town
in three years of campaigning. At Puerto Princesa, the
capital of Palawan, the troops found themselves walk-
ing along macadam streets, reading signs they could
understand, seeing schools, churches, real houses and
gardens bursting with blooming bougainvillea. Pend-
ing the return of the original inhabitants, the troops
quartered themselves under roofs for the first time in
three years. What great delight they got from such
simple, everyday operations as turning on and off water
faucets and opening and closing doors and windows.
From the very beginning it had been evident that the
mission of taking Palawan could be accomplished with
assurance of a decisive victory. Had the Japs elected to
make any stand the resistance would have been short-
lived. Instead, the enemy chose to retreat and scatter
in small groups, thereby forcing the Jungleers to hunt
them down.
From the day of the landing to 28 March American
casualties for the Victor III operation were 11 killed
and 40 wounded. Cumulative casualties to 30 June
were 12 killed and 56 wounded. Jap losses were 890
killed or found dead and 20 prisoners of war.
The Victor III operation was terminated on 20 June
1945.
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Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Chapter 14: Victor IV: Zamboanga
T HE PATTERN of invasion in the Philippines
completely deceived the Japs, for they had long
believed that the liberation of these islands
would begin at Mindanao, second largest island of the
archipelago. But this large island had to wait while
Leyte, Luzon, Palawan and nearly a score of lesser
islands felt the weight of crushing American assaults.
Mindanao was to be the twenty-first of the Philippine
Islands to be invaded.
The first Allied landing in the Zamboanga Peninsula
occurred on the north coast near Dipolog when two
companies of the 24th Division landed by air around
8 March. Their objective was to hold Dipolog Airfield,
which already was under guerrilla control.
The 4lst Division's phase of the Mindanao cam-
paign called for the invasion of Zamboanga Peninsula,
with the seizure of the beachhead adjacent to Wolfe
Airstrip, northwest of Zamboanga City, as the primary
objective. The secondary objective was a line along
Baliwasan River on the west end of San Roque Air-
field; the third phase was the capture of San Roque
airfield and the fourth objective was the city itself.
The Thirteenth Air Force began its pre-invasion
bombardment on 1 March and continued the pounding
on the target area daily. Besides striking at Zamboanga,
the airmen also concentrated on destroying enemy air-
craft, personnel and supply dumps adjacent to the air-
dromes in the Borneo and Davao areas. The Air Forces
maintained an effective blockade against enemy ship-
ping which attempted trips into Makassar and Balabac
Straits and along the coast of Borneo and Palawan.
Efforts were made to preserve the pier at Zamboanga
and the waterworks, supply reservoir and power plant
at Pasananca which served Zamboanga.
The Victor IV landing forces left Mindoro and Leyte
on 8 March, and two days later stood offshore of the
objective. Intensive pre-assault naval and air bombard-
ments softened the beach defenses between Caldera
Point on the west and an area well to the east of Zam-
boanga City, forcing the enemy to vacate these excel-
lent defensive positions, later declared by observers to
be the most extensive and best of their kind yet encoun-
tered by the 41 st Division.
The assault waves, made up of the I62d Infantry,
landed at San Mateo at 0915. As soon as it hit the
beach this unit began moving north and west to take
the western side of the peninsula. The 163d Infantry
followed the l62d ashore, and the latter then turned
east and pressed toward San Roque Airstrip and the city
of Zamboanga. The first four waves were met with
light machine-gun fire but this was soon silenced. As
soon as the Nips recovered from the shock of the pre-
landing barrage they began a heavy artillery and mortar
shelling of the beachhead area. Some landing craft
were damaged and the shelling continued throughout
the day and night as ships discharged their cargo of
troops and supplies.
Progress after the landing was rapid and by noon
two battalions were approaching the secondary ob-
jectives, which were strategic points near the airfields.
This line of advance led through pillboxes, trenches
and wire entanglements which had been abandoned
by the retreating enemy.
Four hours after the landing, the 2d Battalion, 163d
Infantry, pressed through light opposition and reached
Baliwasan River just north of Zamboanga City. The
3d Battalion was held up by rifle and machine-gun
fire from houses in the Gavilan Point area.
During the afternoon, elements of the 3d Battalion,
l62d Infantry, occupied San Roque village. As night
fell, all ground units were advancing slowly against
stiffening opposition. Although the beachhead area
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Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
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LUNSURAN
163RD MADE CONTACT
WITH 162NDON
18 MARCH
'’W/UrT*
'*f fl rat 1
MASH. AY
PASANANOA
PUUG
SAN ROQUE
SANTA MARIA
WOLFE FIELD
TUMAQA
SAN JOSE
SAN MATEO
CALAK.Al
SAN MATEO PT
TETUAN
G AVI LAN
ZAMBOANGA
CAWACAWA
MARIQUI PI
ZAMBOANGA PHASE
VICTOR IV OPERATION
MILES'
;'A' 'a. fti
riginal fp
Mop 29
An dif view of Zarfiboengc Cffy ottvf itwa* cleared of Japs and occupied by il*> OiV>*/on ^foop«.
the hilly in disorder/' Sulu SeY' had been one of the most ' picturesque beauty
The japs had planned to re-naupy their elaborate spots in the Philippines, Bur shelling and aens! strikes
fdlbox system and defend Zamboanga from these' had completed the rum wrought by the jap occupation
beach defenses-. Hw^tr. the intensity of the pre- forces, which had held, die nty since January 19-12
assault barrage . and • the .suddenness of the landing By the time the Americans took the city about nmery
forced the abandonment of such a pLm. The Japs left per cent of it s buddings were in some state of damage,
rear-guard elements- to slow down the invader* while many being completely destroyed. Sections hf the once
the main body of the enemy moved sis miles inland stately walls cd Plaza Pershing stood awy. tumbling
where there were s series of fixed positions- in the hills, down amid the dehm that littered fbe weed g* own
Captured enemy troops later -.revealed' That this w as park, the ruin a monument to Japanese- neglect and
designed to draw the Americans inland from the destruction. However, the fleeing enemy left the city
beaches where they could be annihilated by counter- power plant and wafer system m usable condition,
attack, by the naval guns and artillery pieces in the and the docks were found in remarkably good shape,
caves and strong positions m the lulls. Whatcve* the although a 2 5 -foot section of the causeway leading to
enc-mv plans had been, they were poorly conceived. the mam dock had been blown out by the enemy
The 2d and 3d BatOd/ons of the Infantry con- The Yanks, continued the. relentless pursuit of the
tinned their push on the morning of It March and enemy by pressing northward along the ridges of the
crossed Baliwasau River, moving toward ..Zamboanga San Roque and Zamboanga-Pasananca \ alleys dovmg
City Patrols to the north and west reported oo oppose- the .fhiiirtihg enemy ranks deeper into the almost, mi-
tion. Enemy arnBery in the vicinity of : Sitt Roque and penetrable ram forests., m to terrain where (he enemy
Pasananca stilt was active and was lobbing shells onto was unable to drag his artillery The I6,2d infantry
the beach area ear ne upon determined resistance from an enemy force
The enemy smmi a direct hit on one of dye fuel of unknown size in. the vicinity of San Roque during
dumps south of. Wolfe ■ Auctnp and within, a half hour the second day’s fighting. The regiment .Succeed led in
it Wii$ about thirty 'pgr * :ei if destroyed. The cruise i taking the high ground in this area but made very
Boise launched- cpuhteH^.t^iy Are and; aided bv striked slow' progress.
Public Domain, Google-digitized J http^/www.hatbitrust.org/access_.use#pd-google
TIGBAO
PANGANURAN
VITALI
ISLAND
• TAMlON
TAGUlTE V
SIBUGUEY
BAY
SIBUKO
PANGIAN
BUENA VISTA
TINGULTINGULAN
untanganR^ 4 "'
(j/TY MALAYAl
CURUAN
LfMUN
LIMASUN
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BUNGIAO
.^OLONG
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PATALON
LAPACAN
CA8ALUAY / •/* f MANICAHAN
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/ CULIANQNV-
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SAN RAMON
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ISLAND
TALUKSANGAY
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TALOIVJ!
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TICTAUAN I
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SANTA CRUZ I
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KULIBATO PT
PENINSULA PHASE
VICTOR-IV OPERATION
MILLS
Si ipf Npi
rtmwwiMinwBWHi
Digitized by CO gfe
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Map 30
Mew of « tvitapzns platoon patrol ford a stream iftiktitgh tugged terrain somewhere on Mindanao.
Men of Um 4! si ityMJitfefr xifixif&t •& k*$chh6i&d
4t?» ton* fuppe>rf on th* teitfhfrttfifrrf lip : of Zqmboan^n Pmninsufo.
the morning of •14 Marcio fte Jrtiikrf and mortars Japanese hiil piisition was Mount Capita, shown
laying down fire before the {uropotf. The- i at and 2d on guerrilla maps as northwest of Pas^rtanca. Accord*
Battalions, t63d met strong resistance but iitgiy out battalion, ot tire 162*1. la&htry moved across
soured a line two hundred yards sou tlv of the town, country to ftank- Gipisan:,an ; d. assist *h;e advance- of' the..
Soine of the lead elements reached a road junction cn : l#fd infantry^ After this, movement w^under way
flit center of town by noon but were halted by intense and the lower ioothdls Md been taken it was learned
euemy'lice, tanks were cafied upon the attack Capfsan was to the wesf, above MasUay; T^e m^qp-
hut were of little value since the terrain restricted them mg battalion was then ordered to change direction and
to rOads covered by Jap fire. was sent northwest straight up the ridge to envelop
The Ut 0hr$&>& T62d infantry - moved forward C^pisan from '-kli’e;- 4eas^*%Wtle-; t fcuree .bit't aiiorts; above
1.500 yards northwest of Masifay but it also was Masjlay moved up the ridges to assault frontally and
Stopped by mortar and ^rttlfery fire. The 2d Battalion/ from the west. All four battalions arrived at Caption
on the right* advanced and secured the commanding on the same day. , , r
.’terrain near Wasilay and rfie high ground cwerlocfelng* In. this advance The batr^ioh^ moved separately up
San Roque. Therwa battalions tried to. dose the gap tli<e ridges from bpedtaff fi> ten mites-' apart, The at*
which existed between them but enemy resistance prW racks were made successively through the day, each
vented it. The enemy attempted to four the 162c! Irh battalion being supported V its attack by all available
fan try from the newly taken ground above Mass ky and 'Marine Corps dive bombers, ail the Division kriiUety
San • Rioqujs mt . TVJWatct* but the Allied lines remained and die battalion mortars and machine guns. The.
firm. In the Pasananca sector the 16/d spent the day steep ridges made the use of tanks impossible. The
mopping up and securing the town, daily advances were eight to twelve hundred yards,
Darkness, served ' as- a cover for. increased enemy *. the objectives being spurs on the mam ndge up w hich
achvuy The penmeier of the 1st Battalion* l62d the battalion was advancing. , The work of the engineer
Infantry, was under attack all night but effectively bulldozer operators was ou branding. The)- bulldozed
countered these attacks. Enemy troops, did infiltrate roads along the knife-edge -ruigec directly behind the
the A me norm lines m the .vicinity - of Wolfe Airstrip assault battalions, and always caught up" with their
and succeeded in planting mines along 1 the edges of battalions by nightfall. ^u v s peemifrioj. com«Mo»is
the mam. road and igniting the fuel dump which pre- supply and evacuation,
viou.sly had been bit. During the early rooming hours. Except on the east fkhk the Japs w ere . driven out of
arriliery forward observers reported several mfilrrafons all positions, and into the rain forest cm an average
arid said that, in one instance, the enemy was armed depth of twelve hundred y a rd^ from the beach. More
with bayonets tied to loug poles Parity Japs were than three’ fbousafttf Japanese dead were counted m
killed during the mgbt this period. The Japanese, survivors — nvo to three
Guerrilla information had indicated that the main thousand— sta rted marches through the rain forest
:-V * 1
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mm
li' J
The Japs on Zamboanga P*pins\>tti i»*t th* vling &( Jh» $fs os woryarm*n foy dawn a harriijg*.
towards the., east and west coasts, the bulk of them Meanwhile, the fight ' for. the foothills along the
moving to tb£ west. Or- i 7 March* the bitterly; con- Pasanam’a line went on. Night infiltrations continued
tested high ground north of San Rocjue and west of hut these gradually caused less .and less damage and
Pasan&nci finally was secured. Contact w%$ esUhUshed were of ittrle mote than nuisance value. The 1st Bat
between the I62d and 1 6 3d Regiments in Bus sector faffom fo6th infantry, arrived from Palawan on 19
an I H March. March- Two days later it moved to . poiitions or. the
The invasion of Zamboanga touched- off a wfih jwind east flank to outflank the Japs in front of the Pasarianca
series of successful landings that were to drive the wafer intake.
Nips from the Su In Archipelago, The first of these Stiff resistance greeted the 2d Battalion* 163d Infan-
strikes came on J6 March when Company F of the try. when it continued its attack northwest of Pasananca
162d Infantry cfossed Basftan Strait and went ashore and it made I title progress. This continued until 24
at LarmUn on the northeast coast of Basilan Island, Match when the enemy hill positions behind Pasananca
twelve miles from the tip of Zamboanga, Only slight were mopped up and the lengthy task of pursuit began,
resistance was encountered and when Lamitan was In the preps ration fire before the attack on this dare,
secured pa trdfs ; were dispatched ta Isabela and Bojete- the 204th Field Artillery caught hundreds ■of’ foe enemy
bung. These w found to be cleared of Japs. Two m the open and had devastating effects from its fire
days later elements of Company F landed, unopposed By the end of March, thefod Battalion, \&6th In fan-
on Malamau. northwest of Basilan, The invasion of try. rejoined the Division and relieved elements of the
Basilart netted the Americans the. fim raw rubber KBd Infantry on the east side of the Zamboanga
soufeej to be recqvcre<l from the japs. The Peninsula, thus freeing the veteran Montana outfit for
rubber trees on the plantation of an American rubber another fob of island hopping. Guerrilla forces were
company were found in good condition. although the operating north of the 186thV lines and the Japs,
Japs had not cultivated them during their occupation caught between these two forces, began a slow retreat
Nor did the enemy ship any of the rubber to his home- through the coconut and hauana plantations toward
land. The nulls and warehouses were found burned, the misty rain to tests in the towering green mountains
Before the war Basiian's rubber resources had filled to the north,
the re<}uiremenfs eff the Philippine Islands arid left • April 'became another month of startling headlines,
enough for some .shipments to the United States. The tragic, almost unbelievable, news of the death of
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MINDANAO
ZAMBOANGA
COF, 162 INF,
LANDED
18 MAR 45
MALAMAU tjj
PILAS
IS
balactasan
CO F, 162 INF.
LANDED
16 MAR 45
ISABELLA^
MALUSO
BOJELEBUNG
\jABULUNGAN
BADIA>
BAS1LAN l PHASE
OF THE VICTOR IV
OPERATION
16-18 MARCH 1945
CO.-F, 162ND INF.
TAPIANTANA
GROUP
President Roosevelt stunned members of the armed
forces as it raced along the lines to the men, Okinawa
was attacked and Ernie Pyle, the correspondent who
gave the folks back home a down-to-earth picture of
the war, met sudden death on tiny Ie Shima shortly
after arriving in the Pacific to write about that phase
of the war. The Jungleers claimed some of the head-
lines as they clinched their victory in Zamboanga and
made several jumps onto nearby islands to secure the
Sulu Sea area.
During the ensuing weeks the 4 1st Division troops
pressed forward above Zamboanga, gradually building
up a line along the Sinonog and Maasin Rivers in the
vicinity of Moroc-Lumayang. This area became the
focal point of activity. During the night of 3 April
the Japs, in a strongly defended pocket two thousand
yards northwest of Moroc, temporarily held up the
Allied advance with machine-gun and mortar fire. The
following night the artillery laid down fire on the
enemy positions, and the infantry launched an attack
on the morning of 5 April. This attack was met with
grim, stubborn resistance and the enemy launched a
counterattack. After a severe struggle the Jungleers
finally overran the position.
During the early part of April the 4lst Division
troops expanded and consolidated their positions. Pa-
trols probed deeper into enemy territory along the west
coast of the peninsula and reached Sibuko Bay by 24
April. To speed up the ousting of the Japs, the 1st
Battalion, 186th Infantry, made an amphibious hop up
the west coast of Zamboanga, going ashore on 26 April
at Babuan, eighteen miles above the original landing
point at San Mateo. Numerous contacts were made
there and at Labuan but the enemy's fanactical re-
Go gle
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UNIVERSITY OFWCHSGAN
Jungleors use c- floras* hr ower to dltposn of akifinafe Jape g(l*r th« boll I# far (lip hat* &f Mount Oahb op Jolo Island.
iisiapre weakened considerably &$ he moved into jactrve with Ifttte . difficulty ;m<i pressed toward Jolo
smaller and, smaller pockets and .asr his routes of escape City. the. capital of the island, white. Company C made
were cut. an amphibious assault io the harbor to coincide with
Meanwhile? the t63d Regiment thrust deeper into the entrance of the remainder of the 1st Battabon from
the Sufu Archipelago on 2 April when the id Battalion the ; east. The. 3d Baftafibrg upon landing; moved
leaped two hundred miles southward fronrZamboahgi< itgainsi: ffit ' S&ngkai; t securing that objective by 9 April
and landed at Ta.w.i. Tawi where the v&st harbor and A coordinated Attach on \ series of hills south of
former jap naval base was seized. This surprise move folo-Oty wa* launched cm 12 April with the 1st Bao
netted two smaller, islands, in this group as unopposed ; dabon moving out. from the captured city white the 3d
landings were made on Sang* Sanga and Bortgao, Battalion pressed Us attack from Mr. "Bangkalv The
This leapfrog movement enabled the jurigtem to iso* 3d Battalion struck Against Mt. Magusing, on the east-
late strategic, ttventy-mUedong Jolo Island, home of ern flank of thediaim white the Hi Battalion met the
the picturesque Moros, and the new conquest brought first strong opposition of the campaign as it hit at
the Allied forces to within thirty miles of oil-rich ML Duo, the westernmost peak of the seeks This
Borneo. This provided a springboard for later, attacks entire ridgeime was taken, that day hut only a tier some
or* Borneo itself by Australian forces. The Japs got -.casualties were suffered-.
the usual tipoff that the landing Was in the offing when Mt B&liO loomed as the next ..obstacle to be reduced
kit groups pounded the Tawj Tawj group daily for and the Br BstUhori began the attack on lb Apflf® Tt
two weeks. The landing was made under the cover soon became apparent that the Jap headquarters force,
of naval guns and planes and wa5 aided by guerrilla estimated at ion r hundred troops, was determined to
- farces. Casualties were .-very light make a. final stand here. The hill was covered, with
By. passed jolo was not being overlooked but was connecting trenches, dugtuds and pillboxes For ton t
gettmg a let of attention w the form of daily air rente. days artillery blasted the enemy posdiuus \yhjie Marine
FT boats had made several runs into the channel to Corps air groups completed ?hmty<ox bombing rvs^
attack Japanese shipping in the Job City hatlw. With over the target, area. On 20 April, the lu teuraimo
all of this activity, tt-was .no surprise when the 163d infantrymen edged their way up. the side of the hill
Infantry, less its 3d BatuUom went ashore on the north only to be haired by a hail of lead, wluch kilted 3 men
coast of the island on, $ April. and Wciunded 29. and forced the wrthdraW^i of rite
The doses** enemy concentration was reported to be attackers; Another assault w as planned Tor the toilow-
at Mt; Pafikul, but the 1st Battalion overran the obt mg dav but it was delayed hvenfy.foM hoop; because
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VCCrOR n ZAMBOANGA
die airfield f rom which the 5\^p^«tJfTg: piiiives were to
take off was unserviceable* ' ' >: ~
The artillery sato&ted the target during the
night itf .21 April and mty the fa I lowing morning
thirty -seven planes flew overhead to lend their support.
The combined shelling ami bombing was so effective
that the doughboys were Tide to move forward at a
rapid pace without a single casualty. The area \vws
found Uttered with bodies of 235 Japs and it was
believed that many more had sealed themselm u?to
caves arid blown themselves ro hits, 'this broke the
Jap stand in the sector and the few enemy troops that
escaped f tom >1 h , Da.hQ wandered aimlessly m smaii
groups and were easy prey for roving guerrilla bands,
One group did reach Mt Tamatangas and took up
defensive positrons there, This resulted in continuous
fighting from 23 April until 50 June when Mt. Tuma-
tangas and ML Tar an* m adjoining ridge, were secured.
The capture of jolo completed the con^ucsLof the
entire Suite chain and gave the A Hies possession of the
finest port in the archipelago. Beautiful Jolc Gty r
sometimes called 'Jewel ui the Sulus” and ’'Shrine-
City of the Mc*rps'G^
put the torch to much of what remained of the ro-
itiantfc old dty wfieh PT hoaoTbi^ orr
thr shipping in the harbor,
rjking swiftly inland, 0 nits of the '41 it Racer? Troop or* halted by a hugs
free ieliad across the road by friendly guatriHot who were trying ia
abstract ibe Jap escape root*. Troop* of ' lh*' pa fra) Hear away the
ob stive tion.
Nfuhammed Janaii Abifir 31, 6 5 -year-old Sultan of
Sulu and leader of the 300,000 Mohammedans in the
Suiu A rdupeiago, personal) y welcomed Colonel WiL
ham j. Moroney and his J 63d Infantry men ' as they
took pVer jolo City The old Sitltah v who lud stir
rendered to General (then Captain) John J, Pershing
m the Linked: States’ war against the Moros in T9 1 3,
had remained loyal to the IIS. during the Japanese
occupation and surreptitiously had flown the Stars and
Stripes at his hideout camp during the jap invasion.
Upon arrival of the American troops the Sultan again
brought forth the tattered old flag and raised' h over
hh domain;
The Sultan had been stripped of his possessions by
the Japanese and he felt most keenly the loss of a
saber presented to him by General Pershuvg and a
rifle, which had been a gift from General Leonard
Wood Some of the potent^t^s military prestige \yas
restored, when during ah exchange of gifts. Colonel
Moroney presented him with his ; own .45-eaUber
Considerable moppitig up remained to be clboe but
the Southern Phil ippmes had been freed from Jap
oppression and was once more in American hands
Six islands, Palawan, Zamboanga, Basil an. Taw* Ta\\%
Job, and Busanga, had failed to the 41st Division
within a period of forty days in what undoubtedly was
Halftracks and armored vphi&es bf- ftps. Recan Troop reform otf#r crossing o
• quickly impcpvjsed bridge during a patrol on Jolo, twenty- four hour*
after the* initio} landing.
Gunners of tifafkioti- m»o ip£ pillbo.>.tt of the base of Mounf Ocrfrb jo/b.
pfte of the most sensational but least publicised, cam* fully supplied, as evidenced by the huge stores captured,
pajgfts made by 3.‘'$mgk division during tte Pacife Nevertheless, had refused to give or set!
War. The 41st had regained from the enemy and was .anything to the Filipinos unless they turned cnlUbora
responsible for 186,000 square miles of territory. This tors. The Jurigleers relieved some of the more serious
remarkable; series of campaigns put a ring of steel shortages. Guerrilla troops were fed ami clothed and
around the Sulu Sea and gave the Allies bases. from city officials of Zamboanga were brought out of hiding
which they could donruoaie Jap shipping routes from in the hills and were fed and given help m rtorgam'/hxg
Borneo; Malaya, java and Sumatra. The Jungleets • then government. •
were holding- a vast front probably greater in extent Disease was at an alarming stage among the native
than that occupied by any other division, in the war population* hut paradoxically* the health of the Ameri-
fr&m the Miiffila beadqu&rtets of General Mao can troops was considerably better then at any other
Arthur came a communique , which read, “We now stage, of die Pacific war. Malaria, which had taken
control the entire length of the western shores o£ tire such dreadful tolls during the early campaigns,, now
Philippines from the northwestern tip of Luzon to the was well controlled. Some men had been downed by
southweitem tip of Mindanao-—* • distance of approve the disease many; times, and at one time the malaria .
•mate!y eight hundred miles. The blockade of the ..South . rate ran us high as 361 men :m f000 On Zamboanga
China Sea and the consequent cutting off of the Jap- tlm.figure was* lowered do 2$' and 30-men. per
aheae conquest* to the south fe'Jrrtensifying/’ 1,000, Medical men hud made; great progress in the
To General Doe, the Commander-in-Chief sent die control of malaria, as well as many other afihetiohs
•following message- '‘Palawan and Zamboanga repre- which sveie. common in the Pacific Theater. Doctors
sent splendid performances vvhich reflect greatest credit learned that the- rnalara rate rose and fell in direct
on all concerned. Their perfect coordinatioh, their proportion to the amount of preventive effort put forth
resolute determination and thek complete success show- and the auburn- schedule.
the fighting services at their best. Please inform all Wherever there were troops, malaria-control units
ranks. 1 ’ were 1 at work, spr&yfitg anT.drainmg fte ipbdfe audf
ditches which provided breeding place for mosquitos.
Most of the native |50puteik>n was emaciated from Use- of life -saving ' atabrine had long since become an
the lack of food, clothing ^hd proper medical treat accepted pan of life in the tropics Doctors also had
merit and programs of relief ;^d rehabilkation were learned that the constant use -h£ 'good foot powders
well under way shortly alter the arrival of the Amen- was the answer to many of the tropical diseases. How-
Can- forces, This program aided md abetted by ewi\ miny still were plagued with iifegle tot* that
the vast- stores. of’ enemy mAteriei which had, been cap- painful, irritating slonghffig off ;of the %km.
tu red. ."The amount taken in the southern Philippines
was greater then that captured anywhere during the In playing a major role in the recapture of the Philip-
liberation of the islands except at Manila. pines the Division had fought as if did through the
The Nips had miirdered and /outraged the natives- entire war, not as -a dtimm operating as a Single anit,
and had seized their food The Jap garrison was plenti- but divided into several groups, each a- powerful and
’ IH
Go gle
Bat>le~s£atte<i Jungleer? t&ottnoe iketz march of Mb* rollon as a patrol moves out iorpewheti ib the Philippines a*tt? clearing opt Jap impart who
ware hoi'd/np out In the wreckage
effective 'battle team. The jungleers proceeded with the cigarettes always vtere good jpemmders when one
methodical and thorough skill born during the fang wanted to drive a ruttd bargain.
Ne%v Guinea campaigns, to scixe vast tm /foots from Division headquarters move into ancient, moss-
the vjaps. During these operations the ' 2.05th Field covered Fort Pilar, built long ago bv the Spaniards as
Artiiien supported the Ib2d Infantry. the 2lh?h F«eld art- outpost against the warlike Moros. Pilar s twenty*
Artillery suppoued the ! 86th Combat Team, while the fooCthick stone wails rose /mijestkaliy above the old
146th Field Artillery was teamed with the 1 6Jd sea wail buflt to curb the restless waves of the Sulu
infantry. Sea. It was about this ancient tort that the fhmed
Zamboanga has been termed die.' H peT:fect amphibious States, built Pettit f&rracfe at dk turn of the century,
operation.’* It wa$ NaYH .in t'he;^i^> : ac amphibious Pttar’s saudy vvalls had witfe&oad the Nip reign af
movements made by tire 4 1st Division, and although- wanton destruction *md waste bid the courtyard was
from ihe, start of the plan* thete. could be no doubt of. filled with weeds and . littered with piles of debris,
its success, observers said later that the fight- might FWing it, iims of venerable acacia trees looked* down
have been as rough as that at bloody Biak had the upon a once beauriful avenue rich with memories of
Japs elected to , defend their beach fortifications. American military men such irt Pershing, Woody Mac*
Mean while, the Jung leers were at last out of the Arthur and Wainwrighb^ chert. The
steaming, malarial jungles and Zamboanga cook on Jungleers bid down their guns and turned to clean mg
all the aspects of a paradise. The- campaign had long because they were there to stay
since settled down to the business of rooting the Nips A sample of the japs” cruel disregard for native
out of f fieir hideouts; ;a.nd; destroying them as they were rights had been the. refusal to permit the Fil ipinojs 10
found i A life’ of contparative ease and ledtdty vVa& be- worship at- the ^deo.t shrine of Bren Bernido al Vhgen
gun by the men of the 4tst Division. Avacados, pa* del Filar, The shone, which ovcupled a sp;ti£ along-
payas, bananas, pineapples, camefes and other ' native side the wail of port Filar, had fallen; u> non The
fruits; and vegetables were available. Yanks bargained -list Signal Company went Ip work, repaired and re-
and bettered with r{*e proud and wtty JfdOteiv Trinkets painted ihepkket fence, ^eatled up fie s^red spot
and hems of clothing were traded to -bAlf-daked Fib- and erected a sign wekommg the natives - .to worship
pinos for chickens:; Such items as mattress covers and there again. The natives came, especially on Saturday
Artillerymen of thn 4lst division fire smoke shells lo spot the target at the foot of lUourt? Do^o, and prepare to watch • aircraft bombing and strafing
of the target.
afternoons, and before long there were hundreds ot to qualify him for return to the States and discharge,
burning candies, which .'-restored the olddmie glory ot Contemplating their Impending return to the United
Pil'ar -s historic shrine. . States and civilian life, the men of the. Division took
part in a poll designed to reveal the nature of their
The Division observed ife third year of overseas duty postwar pirns Of 432 men queried these answers were
on 22 March* hat the occasion was not one of cdekra- obtained: 108 mm hoped to get back to their old jobs;
Won, but simply a milestone. There were many months 87 expected to go back to school; 61 wanted to seek
and many miles of hard fighting .'-behind, a trail of college training under the Gf Bill of Rights; $4 ex~
white crosses from Australia across New Guinea, onto pected to remain: m the Army; 4^ intended to go back
Biak and now in the Philippines, Men looked to the to work on a Bum/ 12 ; who had not had farm exgeri?
future but none knew the course, ahead, e«ce> planned to take up farming; 55 focmer farmers
Many new faces began to appear in the Division as had decided to start life anew in the cities; and 50
the c4 darners left for home, and replacements, fresh hoped to take technical training courses to prepare
from ..the States* -.took over to carry fhe %hr to Tojob them for new work This was a healthy indication chat
doorstep; No longer was the 4'\st Division a "Pacific these men, who had fought to preseiw their deaifo'
Northwest unit,’' because its, -membe/s hailed from crude way of hie v had no feeling that the world Owed
jevbry; of the Union. When the Dty&ion was fhwn a living, Then only get an oppoo
summoned for duty its officer • personnel was about {unity to make a decent living in the manner of their
seventy per cent National Guardsmen but now they own choosing and to pick up some semblance of the
mimbered only twelve per cent, life which they had left behind but had never for
Oldtimers were being rotated borne at a rate of three: gotten; These 'Were the- opinions of mature men: of
pgr cent a month but that rate was sufficient ro take twenty-three and iwemydout: years of age. toughened,
care of those who were qualified for the return trip/ by nearly five fears of Army life. They had beer, mere
Problems of transportation and getting sufficient mmv kids of eighteen, nineteen and twenty, many of them,
hers of replacements prevented the immediate appi/aj- when they were called (tom. . school rooms that Septenv
lion of the rotation system. On the home from mem her day in 1940,
bets of Congress were beffig subjected to a barrage of Wkli adl ihe talk of reniramg hpffie a^ hieing; re-
mail from relatives of the men, deraanding that the ruffled to civilian life, the fact **47! reinsured that the
41st Division be returned to the States as a unit .or at war In the Pacific had to be -won: in order, iti prepare
feist/that the oldtimers be returned. Rotation had te thetf^men for ihebigtKings Ipdffiilig Gfn the horizon,
come the first topic of conversation at any ; Gi gathering, a tram mg program was. inaugurated.. The next am-
ahd>>yfen the War Department introduced the point pjhibious operation would be the itfoth for the veterans
sy sf em < this sub ject replaced, catatfon as No, 1 topic of the 4 1 st Division, and accordirig ip W &r Depa rt-
of the day. Irvc.ry original .member of the Division menr communiques issued after the war ended, this
automatically 'had more than the necessary S3 points - one would: hate Taken che. jung Jeers onto the Japanese.
13 (?
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
VICTOR IV; ZAMBOANGA
homeland. As the Division increased the intensity of
its training speculation ran wiki Men watched the
bulletin boards with keen interest as. the news broke
that the first atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiro-
shima. There followed the announcement of Russia's
entry into the fight against the japs and the dropping
of the second atom-bomb. It beam* more evident that
■ , . RBNM|
Digitized by
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Original from
university of Michigan
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
1
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Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Chapter 15: Victor V: Mindanao
T HE Victor V operation was designed to and penetrated MO rotles: This prepared die way for
n ate. the enemy force, estimated ut thirty thou- an early assault on the main jap force in the Davao
sand trbops, in Central Mindanao, The initial sector
objective- 'was the seizure of t he Malabang-Cotahato It was on .2? April that the 1 62d Infantry of the
area where an advance base was. to be established. The 4?st: Division, still parHdpating in the Victor IV opera-
rarget date had been set For 12 April but due to the tion at Zamboanga, was alerted fm overwoter move-
uiiavailahiUtv of assault shipping this date was set merit to Pa rang where it was fc? be attached to X Corps
back ro 17 April. for a role in the lib.erat«m ot Central' Mindanao.
The' 24th and 3 1st Divisions were designated av the In Northern Mindanao the Japanese forces were
forces to accomplish this mission while the 4 lit Dtvi- ^onceutraced rrwifily along; the Sayre Highway, which
sion and the 30>d Parachute Regimental Combat Team, tan north from K.abakan to Bugo, do Maea pilar Bay.
were held && Army reserves. The assault was to- be Oft 27 elements av£ Dm£fca
made rn khevianity of Malabang $incr hoc tnerpy northward trek tram Kabakan while tie" tPbth Regt-
group of any sizeable number was .located there, the mental Combat Team (40th Division) staged a laud
big Jap conii^ntradan being '. tin; the Davao sector, mg in the Vicinity of Bugo on 10 May am) began to
Guerrilla forces seized Malabang while the Victor drive south o.n -Sayre Highway. The lOHth Regiment
V convoy was loading’ and. -the plans, were shifted, to and 3 Ut j D ivision troops met in the vieimtv of
make the impact of the American landing at Parang, Impal.uiao cm 29 May.
seventeen miles. si>trfhward» instead of Mai a bang, the Meanwhile, the l62d Infantry had departed from
original abjective. . Zamboanga on 3 May, arriving at Parang the following
The I findings were made unopposed and die first day. Upon arrival the fungieers were assigned the task
few days were spent in flushing out and eliminating of defending the Corps beachhead, relieving elements
isolated enemy groups.. The Mindanao River was of the 3 Ut Division, and mopping up m the Cotabato
found to be navigable and the period from 38 to 21 area, The relief' m the beachhead area was aaonr
April found one .party., making its way . up the river to pltshed by 6 May and tor the next three days the
Fort Fikir via Lomopog while anotim force took the Jung leers set up base camps and: did limited patrolling,
overland ''route- ^ through Di lap Both forces converged The regiment ’$• 3d Battalion aoel Battery C> 205th Field
on Fort Pikir itftd contmued T|^ drive to Kahakatp Artillery Battalion^ were attached to the 24th Division
thence to Digos on the Davao Gulf, arriving at. the for an amphibious movement to Talomo. about .fifteen
Gulf town on 27 April. )n the first ten days of the miles north of Digos on the Davao Gulf. The 162d f s
campaign American tt o(>ps had dashed aavss the island zone now extended east to Digos and Talbmo.
Hi&h-fmint of fli*» 4f*r DiftS/on { tome of fh+m veterans v? fortr an* montfii in the South board o tionsport for f he first tap' of ih e itj/ig-
awaited trip back to *ht States. A . : ;i?< .
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Public Domain, Google-digitized
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, SWPA
GENERAL OF THE ARMY
DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, U.S.A.
ALLIED NAVAL FORGES, SWPA
SEVENTH FLEET
ADMIRAL
THOMAS C. KINKAiO, U.S N.
FAR EAST AIR FORGE
GENERAL
GEORGE C KENNEY, U S A.
TASK FORCE 78
VICE ADM
DANIEL E. 8 AR8EY. U.S.N
FIFTH AIR FORCE
MAJ. GEN.
ENNIS C. WHITEHEAD, U.S.A
THIRTEENTH AIR FORCE
MAJ. GEN
PAUL B. WURTSMITH, U.SA
TASK GROUP 78,2
VICE ADM
A G. NOBLE, li.S.N
EIGHTH US ARMY
LT. GEN.
R. L. EiCHELBERGER, U.S.A.
24TH INFANTRY DIVISION
MAJ. GEN.
ROSCOE B. WOODRUFF, U.S.A.
19TH INF-COL.
THOMAS E, CLIFFORD, JR.
(KiA 25 JUNE)
LT. COL
WALTER C WlCKBOlOT
2 1ST INF-COL .
WILLIAM J. VERBECK
34 TH INF-COL
WILLIAM W. JENNA (7(1 MAY 15)
IT, COL.
CHESTER E. DAHLEN
(16 MAY-3 JUNE)
LT.COL. LESTER L. WHEELER
(4 30 JUNE)
31ST INFANTRY DIVISION
MAJ. GEN.
CLARENCE A, MARTIN, U.S, A.
124TO INF-COL
EDWAROM. STARR.
iS5TH INF COL.
WALTER J. HANNA.
167TH WOOL-
LA ROY S ' GRAHAM
108TK RCT (40TH DIVISION)
AND 154TH BCT 3
(AMERICAL DIVISION*
LT.CQL.
MAURICE D. STRATTA
,10-20 MAY)
BRIG GEN
ROBERT 0. SHOE, U.S.A.
(21 MAY 1945)
(CONTROL PASSED FROM ARMY
TO CORPS 25 MAY (045) .
162D RCT S. I630 8CT3
(41ST INFANTRY DIVISION)
COL. HAROLD M.IINDSTHOM
SARANGANI TASK FORCE
BRIG GEN ,
KENNETH F. KRAMER, U.S. A.
Order of Baffle for Virfor ,V.
Co median Jv -t. itawn #nterifjint Juhgfaart in 4h* thlUpptopi.
Troops of the 4l$t Division were to play tfco /pits- the 1 624 Infantry in its rear area positions and the
in the Victor V operation. From 4 May to 10 June the Jungleers were directed to assemble in the vicinity of
\62d Infantry operated under Corps control and was Maratnag, tfiis movement to be completed by 6 June,
mopping nip of communication. The I62d Regiment moved to the Fort Pikit-Kabakan
During the period from It to $0 June the Jung leers area and on JO May the first convoy, composed of the
were committed to battle against rhe enemy entrenched 205th Field Artillery and advance regimental head-
northwest of Davao and during this latter phase quarters, began to move north over Sayre Highway,
operated under 24th Division control, As a result of the heavy rains the road was in very
During the first phase the jtmgleers patmUM south poor condition and at some points bulldozers were used
of rhe Mindanao River towards Sopoken, and in the to pull the vehicles over particularly bad Stretches of
area north of Dilapand west olS^y re Highway,, targe- ;• the highway. Before long the bogged -down convoy
enemy concentrations were reported m both sectors had traffic at a virtual standstill. This situation existed
but initial contact was not made wdth the enexny until until 5 June when the T62d Regiment’s orders to
15 May when rhe Antitank Company ran into an
Divutott Ar\in**y forward obtetrsrs dimcl th» firing of whit* phospbvro*
tmok* thteii mark bombing and strafing tcrgmh for aircraft in fh*
Philippines.
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fofmtrymen pf rhp 41 rt Division go about the unpleasant text, ot flushing Ovf snipers, from o house in ibe PhHippinut
‘ '
assemble at Maramag were rescinded and the 4 Ut on thescu^^ of Mindanao. Only light
Division uwt. began movement back to its assembly resistance was encountered at each point and con-
point: io the Fort Pibit-Kahakan sector. sideeable enemy , equipment was destroyed.
The drive up the coastal plain from Digos ta . Davao Following jrs return . 'to the Fort Pikit-K&bakan
City had been hundred m 30 April by the 24th Dm- assembly pint after heavy rains had thwarted its at-
sion. Determined enemy resistance was encountered at tempted move to the 162d Infantry, less its
almost every turn but: the city was captured by 4 May. 3d Barta lion, jceewed orders dft (> June which attached
Considerable mopping up remained to be done and the it to the 24th Division, The Junglem began the move
largest eoriceq teat ion of enemy troops was /epned to to the Davao area the following day, and although
be m the Muuab-T arhOgah area, west and north west road conditions hindered progress considerably, ad
of Davao City. Here the action was to be. limited to Vance elements reached Sago by 9 June,
slow -advances against stiff resistance and enemy, Tsrt*I- Meanwhile, the 21st Infantry had cleared the area
lery fire which was to account for many Amedcan southwest of Minfai imd had captured Bayabas/Muhg,
casualties.
Thd3d Bati^iipn, ld34Tnfimry ? which had just &*>.
rived from Jolo^. was attached to the 24 th Dives ion on
1 1 May, and Company K' had rehgved efenetifs of the
34th Infantry Keghtienf ajQng thd hde of comnrunrea- j
tion between DUvaO aUd T^kOTO Rivers by 13 May. j
The remainder of the 3d Battdjfeiiv 16 jd Infantry took
over security pdsidons in the Davao City area. The •
24th Division thetv began the drive to the north ami
northwest of Davao. Whde its 19t;h Infantry was en- !
gaged in this sector rts 21st and 34th lnfarf|jy Regi j
ments were fighting; iii the MirKal-Tarnogan area and ;
were pushing toward Tamogm, ; j
The 3d Battalion o£ the l&td Infantry’ had been 1
attached to the 24t;h Division ' earl y May and as
the drive toward Tamogau wail laun^^ Comf^hyJC ;
1 62d Infantry* embarked at pigos kdd made landings i
at Uvayon, Balm . Island atid Cap San Agustm on *
3, 4 and ^ June to Hear entrances to Davao 43u If 1
and to destroy reported enemy coast- watcher stations
i 6?.
Caught { n o crossfire itCHTchiddin japmeebin-t gun*, Jung fours crouch
in a shed crater. lbesn ro*m *#r« diretUng a*1iifory Or* and close, ofr
support fvo'nr a forward position in the PbWpptn**.
=3
CL
Men of the 41 si Division us? o repaired camouflaged Jap landing barge In the Sulu Archipelago.
The 34th Infantry drove which wws entered by the 3d Battalion* 165d Infantry,
m the morning of 18 June. The in bn try lost the sup-
port of the tanks during the last day of the push when
heavy rams made the unimproved roads so slippery
that the atm or coiffd advance no farther' The 1st Bat
tajion, l62d Infantry* carried out a series of flanking
movements while pressure was being maintained on
the town. Company G r patroli mg north towards the
Davao River from. Brio, was making scattered con-
tacts.'
Mortar and machine-gun fire greeted the jongieers
as they entered Caiman and the stubbornness of. the
resistance indicated^ that .the Japs still were determined
to make the Allied advance a costly and difficult ven-
ture. Large quantities of mines were found on the
Riverside-Cal man road and in th^if haste the' infantry-
men blew up or removed only those on the highway*
leaving those, along the sides of the road to be rendered
ineffective later.
Following the capture of Caiman, the 34th In fan try
relieved the 21st Infantry and attacked west toward
>£. Srfilfdtsmeously, the Regiment ad-
A lambre and Tapfcxffan
north from Minta’i and captured Uh on 3 June after
Whkfe , there was a j "
mopping up in rhe newly taken a
talion* 34th Infantry, caj '
center of the Vkb lnfantrv zone,
short period of consolidation and
i areas/ The. 1st Bat-
phtfed Bi&o oh ft June. Jn the
The Jfef Ba|UliOh ?
1:63d Infantry, continued its advance northwest on the
Kibawe-Talomo trail and captured Riverside on 10
June.
The I^2d RegimepL now in the assembly area at
Bago, prepared to relieve the 34th Infantry. On 10
Jane the 1 st Battalion took oVex Bie positions of the
1st Battalion, 34$ Regiment fa the vicinity of R&o.
The 3d Battalion of the 162 d Regiment moved to tlla
and was subjected. to- morterand machine-gun fire as
it effected the relief of 34th f*\fantty elements there.
The l62d Infantry was in position by 13 June, and the
163d Regiment's 3d Battalion. which continued mop-
ping up In the Riverside area, was. attached to the l62d
Regiment.
The I62d Infantry and 3d Battalion, 163d Infantry,
moved out from Riverside and the left Mai ago:
from Wangan on 14 June for a coordinated attack on
Caiman. Company C of the 162 d remained m rhe Rko
area to conduct patrol activities The troops advanced
steadily against stubborn resistance and numerous road-
blocks and blowmour bridges. Many enemy strong
points were by -passed*, and by late afternoon of the first
day, forward elements of the 3d Battalion, l<S7d Infan-
try, had reached a point mid-way between Riverside
and Calinan.
Bridges strong enough to support tanks were com-
pleted at Riverside and the following morning the
armor rolled our to support the infantry attack, For-
ward elements had been under mortar fire throughout
the night. As the tanks rolled forward they knocked
out many 0f the enemy strongholds >yb)ch •bad; been
bypassed the previous day By 16 June the infantry
advance was meeting a deliberate delay mg ac bon bu t
with the aid of a rfcil lery fire arid aerial bornbardrn ecus
the jungieer* moved to the south edge of the town,
v* *h s ii bh#fip • e'n Mirdanao, tuil tfoopr of tbs. 41s?
Division \yo*e forward. The tmoiee at the right is from an oil and jwas
dump ki‘ bf Jap artillery.
Digitize
Go
gle
Origi
UNIVERSHY
TrQ&jAf &fth« 41st t>»vwon tfatf through lh* jungte in the Philippine
v a need north from Caiman and seal red the Lascon the Jurigleers worked «st and north until they met
Plantation are# The push continued into the north the enemy about 7,500 yards southeast of Maligan,
west but the enemy had become dwtgani?.ed grid ' . Fighting- continued until enemy resistance was broken
fleeing into the hills. The’ official- s;clhsUlg^dat^'.(>H' the on 17 June, and the advance continued against ride
;c#mpa|gn was announced as M) June* ^ftd by this date fire to the vicinity of iglosad. As the
the area north to Davao Hive r had been mopped up Jivngh^'rs o>immmd around the north slope of Mt
And Tampgan had been token. Botbhy ;^Wugh Luminatso on 20 June, they encouft-
When the dc^rfpg.of the Sayre Highway was corn- tered an eshmated two hundred Japs, entrenched in
pleted m 2 $ May intel ligence feporfr indicated thar strong positions. The Pm king i Ri ver and marshy terrain
the enemy’s 30th division and a number of other units prevented the use of a rii I Secy but for: the next ft ve days
had taken refuge in the. mourthtins immedfa'teiy- east of : mortars and ^fpiaues /potmded the enemy - positions.,
the highway and parficiMarJy in the vicinity of Silae Companies K and Q overran the enemy strongpoiots
and CabangUsan, Id order to destroy these enemy and the J>yp$ fled to the moun wins io the east on 25
fore# and drive their remn&hrs into the wild inoun June, Fafroliipg. continued’ until the close of the. cairn
ts uis east of Pul a ngi River, the 3 1st Division, with the -paign but only scattered contacts were, made. When
H)ath Regimeimal Combat Team and: the 2d Battalion the campaign was dosed the 2d Battalion, 'J.62d Regi-
p£ the V62d Infghtry attached.- Ordered to ad^nce menh was relieved southed Valencia by thd l^iJjppiDe
into eastern Bnkidnoh Province. To asb^mplish this' Army's i T2th fa&frtryy which corttihned die driye eas^
mission & total of five columns advanced east from of Glodsad.
Sayre Highway more or less simultaneously > Troops, of rhe 4 1st Division aided ir« the rnopping-up
The southernmost column to move east of the road activities until 1 July when they departed from Davao
consisted of the M Ikttuliorr 162d Infantry. This to rejoin the Division at Zarnbounga. By 9 July the
force crossed the Puhmgi River, south of Pariad&ran entire Division was once mate concentrated in the
and seven miles north of Mara mag. on 12 June to Zamboanga Sector awaiting orders for the next strike
clean out the fglosad-Namndrh area, for three days „ against the slowly diminishing Japanese empire.
Google
Chapter 16: Peaceful Invasion
\\\V T HEN THE NEWS of Japan's willingness - to '•Prejuumary preparations for the movement w ere
vOX/ surrender broke, it found the Juagleers train- began immediately upon receipt of the X Corps field
yfy mg for another -Amphibious assault. This order, dated 10 September This order directed ^ tb^t the
would have -been the ninth invasion for General Doe s ttoops would go ashore on a "peaceful invasion*' but
troops and would have hit at the very heart of the would be fully prepared for combat in the event there
enemy , homeland. was a resumption of hostilities^ treachery, or sabotage;
Now' that the enemy had capitulated there was much Loading began on 1-5 September, and four days later
speculation as t& what part the Divi$N5h would xhti l.tsf Division ceased operations at Zab)boahga >
’play in- the fins I .settlement of. Japan, The Phil ippine Islands, and the last elements of
JuAgieers did not have to wait long for the answer the first echelon .boarded ..the ships. The Division moved
because on 10 September General McArthur am in. two echelons, the fust embarking during the period
nounced at his press, conference ‘ that the' Sunset O.tvi- 1V to T9 .September ‘while .the second echeion, which
sion would vKCupy the Kurc^iiroshmia area on western was composed tit thirteen LSTs; got under way from
Hpnshu, Zamboanga on 14 October
Kute was the enemy* largest base and the The first ppny^y f . AFAs and five AKA $,
center of the Japanese shipbuilding industry. Hiroshima lifted anchor sod- sailed from Zamboanga at 140l> on
had hit the headlined as the dry which first felt the 19 September, and arrived at Bugo, Mata jaiar .Bay. the
wrath and fury til the atomic bomb. Lor this operation following morning. Here elements of X Corps joined
the 41st Diviskin was relieved from attachment to f the convoy. The ships departed from Bugo that same
Corps and passed to X Corps room?!,' effective tin if day and arrived at .Leyte pit '2 1 September. Here fresh
August. stores vme taken aboard, and the following day the
Meanwhile, the training program, which had been convoy proceeded to Okinawa, arriving in Buckner Bay
geared for an assault Linding cm the Japanese home- during fhe late aftemaori hours of 21 September. An
land, was altered and the troopswere trained for the advance party left the convoy at Okurawa cm H Sep-
occupanhn duties which lay ahead. Numerous orient a- terober with the mirnm at proceeding to Japan to
tion lectures were held to. give the men the mdirnents locate and arrange bivouac areas for the Division and
of the Japanese language while other lectures were Corps troops. This party spent the night tii 2.7 Sepfenv .
given or* the dimate^ geography and finances of Japan ber at Wakayama, Honshu; And about’ mid -afternoon
and: the and morals of the Japanese' people. :. the faitow'ing, day left for buying there dating-
Combat units were trained to handle traffic .direction, the morning of 29 September,
security guard ^rvd other military, police functions. Wither reports indicated that a typhoon was mov*
V -
PubLLc_Domaln, Google^-cticjitized /. http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google
:<m =i,CO gl?
UP
Origiral from
RSITY OF MICHIGAN
Map 36
Pu b! ic.Opma i n,. Goog le-d ig itized. / http ://www. hatbitr
Mtn of the 4) tt Division fine tfi e parade ground it* front of DtfffSidn bead quarters in Hir a falfa>ing a ceremony in # fifth ' the Division Command*
prvi&nrucl decoration* to a score of Jungle***.
ing in a southerly direction toward Okinawa md the peared on the homon., The main body of troops pre-
convoy pulled out of Buckner Bay on 2 $ September and pared for the peaceful invasion of the Nip homeland,
headed for the open sea in a typhoon retirement forma* By 064(1, 7 October the remainder of the 16>:J Regt-
non. The. flotilla sailed due west toward fuiohow, rneru. had come- ashore and immediately- proceeded to
China, biit afet going 2^0 miles it jfeRVtned to, OkC m area about one mile east of Hiro, Artillery
n;jWii. ai living there md Q September went into bivouac m the barracks near the Hiro airstrip,
A second departure was made from Okinawa that while the 1 86th Infantry moved to Kaidakbr do the
same day hut word was ihetyph#ah had eastern outskirts .of the atom-bombed city of Hiroshima,
hmdefed the progress of mine-sweeping activities in the The l62d Infantry moved into Kure and garrisoned in
tfiian-.l Sea, oii.t .i,.en
Cleaning out o caw filled 4+\Vh small parts for radios
dumped inn* the sea neat Kura;
THE jUNGKSERS
liviiig c|uarrers vvtie established^ For the most part the
men found their new quarters partially roofless and
iplefelj’ flea-ridden. As the day wore on a light
WW ,.. v:
drfele began bailing and thi^ soon developed into a
steady rain which poured for five days, transforming
the surrounding cpMrttry^de Into a sea of mud.
The period from 9 to 16 October was devoted to
camp improvement and bail patrolling. The task, of
prime importance .vy.a$ the i^hversion of five barracks
mro liveable quarters. Some of the areas were so
ditty tha t medical authorities advised the rrreo to ifce
m- tents until the proper cleatubg toufil be arfttp^vA,
Rotten, shaky floors were replaced, glass was inserted
in the windows and shingles :md tarpaulins were used
unserviceable roofs, these being replaced
temporarily
later, w ith sheet iron as it became av^fefele,- Almost all
of the floors were covered With thick; flea-ihfeted
straw mats. These were removed and burped, and the
barrack^ were Saturated with a solution of DDT. W it-
mg Was inspected and repaired^ latrines were con-
structed, and heating, and shower facilities were
installed. The buildings were constructed of highly
combustible material, and the fire hazards were recog-
ni^ed tmm^dratefy; The necessary pj^ta nitons were
taken m ^ccard^nce with directives tofcto|;bcf head-
quarters!' Fire marsliais were designated 'ma fire-fight-
ing crews svere formed and instructed in the use of fire
fighting ^uipment..:wWch- had been Yeo
paired. Buckets of sand and barrels of wafer ' were
placed at.. strategic locations throughout the area while
most barracks areas had small reservoirs of water
nearby. WifiJ e the garrison area s were Being improved
the Poth Engineers were busy opening water points,
constructing messhaiis and repairing bridges and roads.
The sudden change in climate already was noticeable
Women barbms n+ere a comroorr sight fti Japan, end hero a Jungle**
0t»fjr t* close thav* iron*. & iityiftihi* tonsorlal artiiU
stages of the occupation ranged from extreme fear and
skepticism to an .oh predicted degree of -apparent friend-
liness and cooperation. Policemen, dressed in neat,
dark blue uniforms and wearing &mal L shining siyor 4s
which dangled at their sides, were standing at uniform
distances along the highway, facing away tom the
Americans. This was in accordance with the Japanese
custom that the greatest honor and respect which can
be paid 3 person is not to look upon him,
AS the units- arrived in then respective details
were formed to handle fjie many odd jobs which con-
fronted the RmgJem. Warehouses were manned and
supplies unloaded and stored. Tern porary kitchens and
the American soidiar makes friends with foreign peoples wherever he
goer, and Japan wos no exception. A doughboy distributes \:ondy to
a group oi eager Japanese ihifp f*n
sSuSSi -
PEACEFUL INVASION
made an appearance an the menu.
A field order published m 1® October de&gnated the
infantry regimenal and field artillery battalion unites
of responsibility for the protection, assembly* desfruc- £*
tioo and the turning over of Japanese Army, Navy and
Air Corps supplies add equipment to the Japanese %
Home Ministry'. There was touch shuffling., of troops •
during this period; On 2B October, units of die 16-24 &
Infantry 1 left thdr submarine base ganison at Kurc and 9
moved to Oiiomtchi, Fukuyama and Matsue where oetfu* Jf
pation. reconnaissance and destruction of materiel was j#
to be conducted. Company 8 of the H6th Engmw j .. R
the L8ist Bomb Disposal Squad and the Chemical |
General Service Company were attached to else regi- |
ment for this mission. The movement w.u$ completed fi
by 5 November and fjjje Cannon Company assumed dee H
military police duties in tlte new regimental area - The.:
1st Battalion established its headquarters in the Matsu e
sector, the $d Battalion located at Fukuyama, the head-
quarters group set up at Owmichi, and the 58rb Chemi-
cal General Service Company took over the Tadarioyrm
area, where there were Urge Stores of foxk gas ip. han-
dle The l6?ih Field Artillery Battalion became re>poir
sibte for reconnaissance of a group of islands southeast
of Kure and moved detachmen & to these islands white
the '2 1 8th Field Artillery Battalion was responsible for j
a series of islands south of Hiroshima and tv* the \ymt A
of Kure, Battery A of the. 218th Battalion moved m
Eta Jifin on 21 October and . three days later was fol
lowed by the tanamder of the unit. Meanwhile. the C
second echelon of 4 1st Division troops had arrived £
from Zamboanga, on I : 5 October and had fi rushed up- ■
load mg by the foifowmg afternoon.
Top; Two soldiers use sledges *c destroy some Jopanes* orms. Lower;
Larger guns wore destroyed by placing high explosives in the bar*.
Road monnai^ance and the checking of Japanese
warehouses and dumps was progressing at an ever-
increasing tempo. Destruction work had already been
started and Was heutg eonddeted at a {Vigorous pace.
However, there seemed lift le possibility pf .mefcfrng the
deadlines established by higher headquarters. The Jap-
anese, except m rare utsta noe* , were most cooperative^
For stores which wbre to be turned over to the Home
Ministry the figures furnished by the Japanese were
accepted but new inventories were compiled for all
Other items. Such articles as pistols; revolvers, sabers,
awards and binoculars were declared controlled items.
Disposal of the materiel was accomplished by the fob
lowing methods-: ( l ) d^sttuction and. .scrapping;
( 2 ) using it for operations; ( h } returning it for use
AiP* »/ the X U1 Division operate o check paint near Hire.
Public Domain, Google-digitized / _http://www.hathitrust.acg/a<^_ss^u^^^drgoogle;.
’ll) ll>* 41 si Quintan's gridders line dp to run through a Sonus of plays. (2) Absence of goat didn't interfere '<#<>!»• drills on tho gridiron (31 The
Jungleer bosketbolfen von the cfQwn ‘without dropping o decision. (41 Two Jungleort swap punches in pnv of the many hexing shows.
mUi
The 4) st Division Band on the parade ground In front of PMtiort HwdaMprtars of Hi to.
Qft^al fror
SFTY^OF M
invasion
Sotdfors fit the 41 si Division (ook oyer lot* heavy too slat, gun* whifb were
located along the fp&sMttyV Itgdit1& fnfa* Kvt* Mdfbor:.
Jongteors sufierytir a detail o t J opanfise workmen who orf cleaning up
around quarter j. occupied by the 41st Division
* im
Digitized by
Gougle
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
;:4v
trm
Wf: fhr*v> *hart/rtj/jf#r* ponder ffa itfop of '.'signing vp" q a they iloTu/ outside fhff «cfu»lirtg office Right: Qne mon decides 'to
■■<Pt94'f r and papers from the rstruiifng office* pf fhe IdJd ihfaniry.
sand jap soldiers were kept on hand to aid in this ukerbeixeupatiorr in its true light. They learned that
project By 1 December an estimated 300,000 persons ir was neither a cruel hardship, nor a great deliverance,
passed through th^ Hiroshima ports of Ujina and but a victorious army pursuing a policy which might
Cuke, This figure included some hKmM) Chinese and benefit Japan's future hut would still impose some diffb
Koreans who left Japan for .their native lands via these eulties.in the immediate future, Fox a short period—
ports. as was evident from the press and statements of the
"The attitude of the Japanese people was observed people — the Japanese had the feeling that the Amerri
very Closely fhtpughau^ md strict sue- e#s would "fix" Japan without the tutrves j having to
vdllante was maintained over ail newspapers in the d*> anything', except: follow orders, Soon. however, it
urea. The attitude of the 'popukce. in general, went to became apparent that this new era for Japan would
two extremes— from that of outright fear and skepti- require some work and self-sacrifice m. the part of the
ci$m to an uneasy and an predicted degree of fuendil people,
-ness. The first of these 1 attitudes was traceable to* the
Japanese, system of education, training, psydiology and The return of. men ro the United States via -the point
military background It was the result of propaganda system really rolled into high gear in November and
which portrayed the Americans as robbers, rapists and December of 1945. The point system and the impend -
downright devils from the very depths of hell Much
of the fear came from the belief that any occupying
force would use the same brutal methods which the
Japanese had employed during their own occupations
of foreign lands. ' - . \ - •
A marked difference in artitu&ft’j.wdfr noticeable
according to geographical region^. : Those? natives of
raetropolitafr areas sud) as Kure. Hjro and Hiroshima
— particularly the latter — were openly fearful ami' pre
seated .marereserved tfftd bitter attitude.
Tin? obvious ini&edueahon of the Japanese people
with regard ro American soldiers and their behavioe
plus the exceJtleJU discipi ifie and cmKfuet of the troops
and the A me t lean genefosiiy soon dispell ed the. japs
nayfix^ fhaf. ail Americans w^re plundering barbarians/
As fhfe atritudC' was dispelled' there Was in its wake a
surprised ^nd grateful fed frig.
As time -passed, however, the Japanese came to recog
iiigion played at* important port in Ihc Wa of Jh* individual soldier
Hero a group of OMtidft xpfdi+rs oPenri Mass in a Cdlhclrc chapel
in. the Oiytiion otoo
■
i ■ -
87 J*
THE JL/NGtEEKS
shops in - evwy r^grby town -and village #4 ;parcba$ed
.til avail able ChrLarri as supplies and deo>r:jOom. Rei i
gious sfervice§/ 3 vvdl planned dinner, special -entertain*
ment, rest and relaxation were the order of the day
for all.
Once the job of destroying the enemy T war materiel
and cieinobfi/ine his 'War machine was pretty well in
hand, much attention was directed to an athletic and
recreation program for personnel of the Division- Bas-
ketball and badminton courts, baseball and softball
diamonds J$J boxing rings were constructed through-
out the DtvLsion area and games and matches were
scheduled. There Abo was a baskei ball and football
•. "team; composed of pe.rtqnng! Ham Division adits to
represent the Jungteecs in the Pacific Theater 'Olympics,
The 41 Sr. Division boasted particularly outstanding
basketball and football teams, the former crowned
champion of the Qcutparion Fortes and latex king of
the entire Pacific Theater, while the latter advanced to
the seiTH-fitrals in the race for the Occupation Forces
title and then bowed to the l Uh Airborne Division,
which later copped the Pacific Theater tr own.
The basketball team, under the tutelage of Lieu ten-
ant Gerald Tucket, a ;f fynier . Al ‘
homy 'University and vi member of. the 4 1st Division
Artillery, first commanded the attention of the Occupa-
tion Forces when n journeyed mirth, covering most of
the Sixth Army area and winning games- by lopsided
scores froitf l 'Corps, 9#fh ai*d
33d Divisions.. Then came the Occupation Forces play-
offs in Tokyo where ;i champion, was to he crowned
and later , pitted agaiiist feams from other sections of
die Pacific Theater for the rhevitef title. In its cjiaest: for
fhe'Gecu part pfi '■■ Forces' chainpionsbip the jungleer ag-
The Americpn soidier was a souvenir collector , and would shift home
almost anything he could get into a crate. A postal officer check* ayter
load of packages carrying lornnin being sent 4o the Stp ies
ing return to home and civilian life dominated every
conversation and each day there would be a new dirty-
five or a ■.-.dozen new rumors. And each day would see;
another group of men packing' equipment, bidding
goodbye to theiV buddies and heading fqt Nagoyu, the
Sixth Army Disposition Center, a ship and eventually
home. Units now were operating far below their Y/Q
strength because the replacements were tncklmg in
while those eligible for return: to the States were pour-
ing out. This placed additional burdens. upon the shoul-
ders of those kfb behind .to fulfill occupation duties,
but they cGfUitmed carrying out their task and dreammg
and talking of the day when they too would leave for-
home v
Thanksgiving Day arrived and the men were treated
to a real old-fashioned turkey dinner With all the trim-
mings; Jt was a day of rest and relaxation for ,dl and
for the privates it was really a holiday since all details,
including KfC were pulled by the highest ranking
noncoms.
y^ith the arena! of the Christmas season the Weather
in Japan became rnqre like that to htkh'y- of the
men had been accustomed arjVothf. Clrmtmai oh Biak
the previous year had. been Sweltering, but m Japan
the climate was more temperate and there was more
of the Yuiefjde aunosphere Much time was spent in
decorating barracks, mess halls and recreation rooms
and. for a change, thp men had real Christmas trees
japan, prior to the warv manufactured and sold to the
l 1 o i ted States the ha Ik of the C h ti s trria $ o. rn a m en t $ us ed
mind the men scoured the
fh* praoi c,k tha pudding is m the eating, and- these students at the
cooks' and bakers’ school at H (re seem will pleased with their culinary
dccanfplishment.
m Ameiica and with this:
mair
wm
f':o?Uon of the Special Sfrriffe Section wo* the operation of V radio (iQiiori ■ *t ■ toft a. fechnicion chick * .‘*qiN
Mpit al lhe itiowi bnanjed to Otvaion personnel were rtUrraadcasig of program* oti-QiPOi-ng in At
go art' ifte pic with <j special original broadcott.
pment prior to going on the air.
ngfit two men pf the 4lit Dfidtion
gcegation took easy win* over the 7th Drvisioa> 33d courses which w ould aid them in civil ran -life; Four
Division, and H th Airborne Division, the latter victo.ry small schools were established, designed to offer
advancing the Sunset five to the fipafowfofo ft met Hk < purses m algebra, bookkeeping, accounting, crop man-
7 7th Division. ./Winning 48 : >8. to cop the fhaitipionship agern^nt, education, Bible study, mechanics, small busi-
ed r.he' Occupation forces. Further iaurds weir added ness, electrical wiring, Fmglish grammar, general
by the Jung lee is as they beat the Shnwa Base Filth Air science- American history, elementary Japanese, photo -
Forte Flyers oi Okinawa, Tib G and -I Ui\ to earn the graphy. psychology, radio, Spanish, German, plane
privilege ot ghing Mifo&a $o compete for the Theater
championship. Tfo Fagific If heater finals held m
Rizal Coliseum, in Manila, and here the 4 1st Divi-
sion copped two vkveuons over an all-star team fmm
Hawaii to reign $upenf$ ort-the &&$ketbafoi?tfb^ in the
Pacific Theater. Thc jungleers wgnr thd dfttanie with
an unblemished record ty
The 4 1st Division football team coached by Cap
tain Jack IVubhHv •'.former Ofclafeim vt&M star, ind
Lieutenant Colonel Fred Thonipam, former Arkansas
University coach. The team i^yed rhfoe: gaings, the
first being played at Nagoya wWe the Jungleers white-
washed the/Kl^oya Base eleven, 2 iV& This timed
them A ^fit- ftf the Christmas Day contest staged in
Kyoto Stadium where the 41 sf Division trounced
USASCOM-C, 2.7-2; . This Victory took the juiyglegrs to
the semi-finals for the Occupation Forces championship,
and m a New A ear's Day Tokyo Bow l gait)e;fod ; 4l$h
Division suffered its first defeat; 25- 12, at tht'handlftf..
the 1 1th Airborne Division;
There were other phases of this occupation pfogxam
beside the athletic program; The G A section of the-.
Division instituted a broad and intensive Information
and Fduc&tJon program which trained men for Army,
technical and specialist jobs or provided them with
7 his Jungleer
g«tt a helping hand with hit Christmas tree Uonx a
Japnn+<* 'bVvT'/' ' ” ■
&
178
THE JUNGLEERS
trigonometry and heavy road equipment operation.
Where possible the courses included practical work. To
fill the many vacancies being caused by the rotation pro-
gram the Division also operated the following schools:
cooks’ and bakers’, mechanics, buglers’, radio code,
message center, rifle marksmanship, typing, shorthand,
and military correspondence and records. In line with
this program all men were provided the opportunity
to visit Hiroshima and the shrine island of Itsuku
Shima.
The Army was formulating its post-war policy and
setting up a program of occupation for the conquered
countries. Under these plans some divisions were being
returned to the United States where they were inacti-
vated while many more were being inactivated on for-
eign soil. The latter was to apply to the 41 st Division.
Shortly after Christmas, replacements were coming into
the Division in smaller and smaller lots, and some units
of the Division were directed to transfer men to other
units in Japan. It seemed an established fact that the
Division was going to cease operations, yet there was
no official word on the matter. Finally at noon on 30
December came a message from Sixth Army Head-
quarters stating that as of 2400 hours, 31 December
1945, the 4 1st Division would be inactivated. Men
pitched in and began the long, tedious process of com-
pleting the necessary papers to put the Division out of
business. Finally after a week of almost ceaseless toil
the 4lst Division wrote "Finis” to its deeds in World
War II and the 24th Infantry Division took over what
had been the Jungleer occupation zone.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Appendix
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Go igle
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
Honor Roll
Donald Abbott
Edward F. Abel
Raymond A. Ackerman
Clayton L. Adams
John A. Adams
Glenn H. Ainsworth
John F. Alberghina
Madison J. Aldige
Floyd E. Alison
Loren R. Allen
Sam Allen
Clyde E. Altemus
Robert L. Amans
Willie Ames
Arthur C. Anderson
Virgil Anderson
Lawrence J. Andrews
Robert Angelo
Lawrence M. Ankrum
Benjamin C. Archuleta
Saturnino Arevalo
James F. Armany
John W. Ash
Charles D. Ashcraft
Murray Axel
Gaylord G. Badberg
Nelson K. Baer
John J. Bagis
James Bahuslar
Claud S. Bailey
Issac J. Baker
Anthony Baldini
Joseph M. Balisteri
John Banaszek
Claude L. Barbour
Walter L. Barger
Francis S. Barnes
William G. Barnes
Howard L. Barnett
Emil J. Baron
Felix Barrera
Frank W. Batcha
John Beard. Jr.
William J. Beaudoin
Harry W. Beausoleil
Cyril E. Beck
Gerald F. Beck
James L. Beck
Heinz Behrendt
John J. Behuncik
Bruce N. Beighey
Frank Belchak
Otis B. Belin
Edgar L. Bell
Virgil A. Bell
Meyer Belofsky
John Bender
Edgar W. Benge
Robert K. Bentley
Carl C. Berg
Marvin A. Berg
Arthur L. Berger
William D. Berry
Raymond A. Berryman
Julian P. Bilbao
Harry L. Billsbo rough
Maxwell Bilton
Donald Binkley
Albert J. Bitterman
J. B. Blackburn
Lloyd J. Blakemore
George R. Blanich
George O. Bloomquist. Jr.
LeRoy G. Blumenthal
Michael Bobby
Laurel I. Bodding-Field
Miguel P. Bojorquez
James W. Boland
Richard H. Boliek
Eugene H. Bombardier
Leland H. Bone
Ernest D. Bordner
Steve Bossony
Herbert C. Bostwick
Glen J. Bowen
John J. Bowman
George Boyer. Jr.
Duke R. Boyett
Hugh Boyle
Paul J. Braden
Thomas L. Bradley
William H. Bragg
Elbert E. Branch
Otto J. Brandel
William J. Brandes
Elton L. Brann
Ralph D. Breitwiser
Frank Bren
Ronald M. Bretzke
Harold Brill
Fred J. Brittingham
William B. Brooks
William D. Brooks
Doyle L. Brown
Jack Brown
John D. Brown
Lester E. Brown
Robert C. Brown
Theodore J. Brown
Albert B. Brunetti
Rosario A. Bruno
Francis M. Buck
Floyd A. Bunker
Quinton R. Burcham
Fred A. Burgen
Gerald A. Burgess
Neal L. Burgess
Oda Burgess
Paul M. Burgos
Chester A. Burnette
James R. Cain
Elwood C. Call
Richard L. Calvert, Jr.
Frank Campa
Russell E. Campbell
Samuel A. Campbell
Samuel G. Cappuccino
John G. Carey
Alfred Carlson
Denton B. Carroll
Deval A. Cassidy
Angelo Castelli
Daryl L. Cate
John M. Cate
Carlton S. Chambers
William Chambers
Earnest Chappell
Eugene R. Christie
Victor E. Church
Frank L. Churchill
John L. Chute
Norbert R. Chybowski
Anthony P. Ciarle
Ernest Cisneros
Frank M. Cleland
James C. Close
Robert E. Coers
J. T. Coffee
Lloyd A. Cole
Robert A. Cole
Gerald M. Collins
Anthony Collucci
Marion H. Colster
Ottis C. Colville
Estel C. Conner
Philip G. Conner
Thomas W. Conner
Hugh Connor
Eldon F. Cook
Lawrence R. Cook
Robert E. Coons
Robert E. Coors
Harry L. Copp
William H. Coppedge
Edward F. Correia
Joseph T. Costello
David T. Cottle
Jack M. Courney
Melvin H. Cove
William B. Cowan
James L. Cram
Anthony S. Crispino
Harold V. Crook
William A. Crow
Buner G. Cruce
Donald J. Crunican
Clifford R. Curry
Bernice Drwin
Kenneth M. Dahlstrom
Richard C. Dandwrand
James A. Daniels
James F. Davenport
Charles P. Davis
Mike Davis
Robert J. Davis
Clifton A. Deason
Howard Dehart
Louis S. Delgado
Aldred DeLoof. Jr.
Ralph DeDominia
Carl DeRyke
Aaron K. Dickey
Other E. Dickson
Sam H. Dickson
Roy L. Dietsch
Joseph A. DiGiacomo, Jr.
Wilford J. Dingman
Edward I. Dittrich
Anthony Dombroski
Edward A. Dominski
Anthony L. Donated i
Edward P. Dotson
James W. Doyle
Theobald Dreher
Jacob P. Dresen
Arthur J. Drigert
Carl F. Duell
Charles I. Duke
Eli Dullont
Alexander R. DuMarce
Ella Dumont
Humbird Dunlap, Jr.
Robert W. Dunlap
Duncan V. DuPree
Fred L. Dutton, Jr.
Howard F. Eaches
William C. Eaker
John J. Edgerton
Paul S. Edwards
George E. Eichenlaub
John J. Ekert
Alexander Elliott
Harold W. Elliott
Donald E. Ellis
Oren E. Else
Robert E. Ely
Richard G. Erdley
Joseph S. Escalona
Stanley Evanoff
Earl E. Ewing
Nicholas J. Fabio
Clarence E. Fair
Charles E. Farr
Kenneth E. Felix
Richard W. Fennemore
Sebastian Ferreira
Lloyd K. Ferren
Stanley W. Fields
Shirley H. Fiscus
Eathel I. Fish
Hal C. Fisher
Harold R. Fisk
Erwin H. Flemming
William B. Flesch
Myron W. Folsom
Lester B. Foltz
Thomas J. Fowey, Jr.
Emery C. Fox
Carl L. Frazier
Wilbert H. Fredericks
Dale A. Fredricks
Geron R. Fredrickson, Jr.
Gerald R. Frees
Albert L. Freitas
Lloyd E. Frost
William L. Funk
Norman R. Gafner
Raymond C. Gagnier
Joseph E. Gaither
Joseph E. Galus
Elmer W. Gardner
Robert Garoutte
Glen Garrison
Edward J. Garski
Owen D. Gaskell
Joaquin N. Gayaldo
Angelo F. Gemelli
Adam Genther
Adolph L. Gibbs
Everett W. Gilkison
Clement W. Gill
James W. Gillespie
Virgil A. Girard
Jimmy R. Girardo
Joseph G. Glessner
Junnie Godfrey
Fritz H. Goedeke
Raymond W. Goerke
Robert D. Goiner
Zalmen Goldberger
Arthur T. Goldsmith
Ralph Golhke
Gerald E. Gordon
Virgil H. Gordon
Frank J. Gorishek
Stanley J. Gorlewski
Perry Gould
Major H. Gower
Samuel Graff
Roderick N. Granger
George W. Grant
Nick J. Grant
Roscoe Graves
Leland G. Greenlee
Charles G. Griffin
Robert R. Griffith
Frank L. Griggs
Arthur M. Gritzmacher
Ollie Grizzle
Bennie T. Gronito
William R. Groschen
Jerome L. Grosshandler
John T. Gruhala
Pascual Guerrero
James E. Guier
Salvadore J. Gullotta
Franklin W. Gunderman
Glen B. Gunter
William C. Haffner. Jr.
Beauford H. Haggard
George W. Haines
Jack D. Hale
Boyd Hall
Earl E. Hall
Fred L. Hall
Lloyd Hall
Robert V. Hall
Odell V. Haltzel
Charles T. Hampton
Alfred H. Hanenkrat
Clarence L. Hanna
Clarence R. Hanns
Thomas P. Hanrahan
Richard A. Hansen
Ruessell S. Hapke
Ted Hardan
Dallas Harder
Clark B. Hardesty
Pete Harrera
David W. Harrington
Thomas L. Harris
William Harris
Frank K. Harrison
John R. Hart
Harold O. Hartman
Wayne A. Harwood
Paul G. Hassler
Frederick V. Hatton
Eugene Hausman
Robert J. Hawkins
Harvey C. Hayes
Walter G. Hayes
Raymond F. Healson
Morris C. Heath
Herbert C. Helland
Clyde F. Henderson
Merton E. Henderson
Henry H. Hermsen
Modesto Hernandez
Michael C. Herrara
Darold J. Hess
Harold T. Higgenbotham
Wilbur L. Hill
Henry O. Hinkley
Ira W. Hodge
Frank A. Hoelscher
Kenneth H. Hoffman
J. C. Holder, Jr.
Hugh M. Holmes
Robert C. Holmes
Frank Hopkins. Jr.
James W. Hopkins, Jr.
Thomas P. Horan
William W. Horn
George F. Hornbussell
Harold B. Houston
Francis J. Hovorka
Theodore P. Howe
Raymond W. Howerton
Irving H. Hoyt
George T. Hudson
Wayne W. Huffman
Arthur W. Hughes
Byron D. Hurley
William A. Huse
William G. Hutton
Neil W. Hyde
Lester Hysche
Joseph Immerman
Robert W. Inghram
Ralph Inman
Bernard Irmen
Merne A. Jacobsen
Frank S. Jankowsky
Fred L. Janosik
Albert F. Janosky
William L. Jarvis
Herbert L. Jenkins
George R. Jennings
Howard B. Jensen
Norman F. Jepson
Francis Jette
Albert N. Jimenez
Yee N. Jin
Bill A. Joaquin
Arnold G. Johnson
Arthur C. Johnson
Arven E. Johnson
Clayton D. Johnson
Hannes W. Johnson
Henry L. Johnson
John S. Johnson
Lawrence N. Johnson
Leo R. Johnson
Aubrey C. Jones
By rum D. Jones
Dennis D. Jones
Henry M. Jones
Ivan E. Jones
Lester Jones
Marion Jones
Marion W. Jones
Gilbert H. Jordan
Ralph W. Juhl
Felix Jurasin
Fred R. Kabkee
James R. Kain
Andrew Kaisel
Railed V. Railed
Seymour R. Katz
Edward T. Kearney
Richard A. Keefer
Carl J. Keeling
Robert P. Keenan
Bernard G. Kees
Darrell D. Keeth
Randall A. Keiler
Norman Kelly
Harvey L. Kennedy
Chester E. Kepner
Richard A. Kessler
Bryce H. Kiberd
Howard H. Kidd
Leon L. Kimberly
Anton F. Klepec
Louis J. Kline
John V. Klobofski
Walter J. Kloeckner
Walter Kmicinski
Dale C. Knauss
Joseph M. Kondili
Thomas C. Korsmo
Lester Koustrup
John J. Kranerik
Albert R. Kroll
Earl E. Kueker
Howard J. Kuhn
Louis W. Kuhn
William E. Kuisel
Edmund H. Kurkowski
Walter P. Kuropatva
Richard J. LaHaze
Richard J. Lahrig
Lee B. Lampe
Charles R. Lamphers
Troy C. Landcaster
John A. Landicina
John P. Landman
Laurence H. Lane
George F. Langel
Albert J. Langham
W’ilbur J. Langston
Charles M. LaPloca
Earl W. Larkin
Howard J. Larkins
Russell C. Larsen
Herbert Larson
Joe E. Lashapell
Jack B. Laws
Homer L. Layne
Brown R. Leavell
Marvin S. Leckman
Lavern M. Ledbetter
Fred O. Lee
John B. Lee
George A. Leet
Alois H. Legleiter
Kenneth J. Leibach
Paul Leisnig
Chester A. Lekberg
Robert E. LeMieux
Cecil T. Lentz
August Leonard
Jesse W. Lester
Arthur E. Leudke
Constantine Levasseur
Russell E. Lewis
Robert S. Libera
Judson E. Lillie, Jr.
Leo J. Limbocker
Howard L. Lindenau
B. F. Lingerfelt
Harvey C. Lingle
Herbert L. Lisiecki
Ernest T. Livermore
The rosters appearing in this book were taken from official records on file in the Department of the Army and are as complete as can possibly be
compiled at the time of going to press (August 1948). The Department of the Army hopes to have completely accurate rosters compiled at some future
date, but from all present indications this date is a long way off. We have done our very best and humbly apologize for any and all omissions of
names and other errors. THE EDITOR.
180
Digitized by C^ouoie
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
HONOR ROLL
Dav> d A. Lockefsky
Stanley S. Logadon
Rogelio T. Lucero
Earl W. Lukes
Albert G. Luley
Joe G. Mach
Eldred W. Madden
Clyde A. Major
William W. Maloney, Jr.
Louis J. Mangold
Robert M. Mann
John E. Manning
Juan V. Marcelles
Jack Marcus
Joseph C. Markland
John J. Marlowe
Frank Marrello
Kenneth D. Marsh
Raymond A. Marshall
Allan G. Martin
Arthur R. Martin
Harry W. Martin, Jr.
Kenneth E. Martin
Louis R. Martin
Verle Martin
Adelaido Martinez
Douglas H. Mason
John H. Massey
Charles R. Maurer
Otto L. May
Carl R. Mayfield
Harry VV. McClean
William D. McClure
David F. McCorkle
Raymond McDaniel
Gay L. McDermeit
William McGhee
Robert L. McGill
John R. McHugh
Carrol I. Mcllvanie
William J. McKay
William McKenzie
William P. McKenzie
Garland McLemore
John McMeel
William M. McNulty
Earl R. McShane
Woodrow Meadows
Raymond P. Medina
Lloyd D. Meek
Gordon B. Melody
Julius B. Mendoza
Hugh Mercille
Frank L. Messinger, Jr.
Alley D. Messingill
Donald D. Meyers
Edwin D. Michael
William C. Michaels
William M. Middleton
Harlan Milder
Ralph B. Miles
Jesse K. Miley
Godfrey W. Milhoover
Albert E. Miller
Clarence J. Miller
Frederick C. Miller
Robert W. Minner
Onecimbo M. Mirabel
Ernest P. Miraldi
George H. Mitchell
Max M. Mitchell
Edward C. Molina
Fritz Moliter, Jr.
Owen T. Monagham
Richard M. Monger
Thomas O. Monsted
Howard D. Moore
James P. Moore
Carl P. Morales
Edward Morales
Barney Morgan, Jr.
Willie D. Morin
Bernard F. Morrell
Norman A. Mosher
William J. Mossman
William B. Moulton, Jr.
Otto P. Mounce
Richard E. Muldoon
Richard L. Mullis
Julian J. Munoz
Robert H. Munson
Julius Murkil
Robert L. Murphy
Anthony J. Mussari
Digitized by
181
Murray E. Muzzal
Earl W. Nance
Sam Nash
Gusta Nauman
Edward Nedza
Alonzo R. Neisler
La Verne O. Nelson
Russell C. Newhouse
Mandell Newmark
Erby Newson
Joseph C. Nichetti
Roger L. Nicholas
James L. Nixon
William H. Noel
William A. Nordstrom
Perdin O. Nore
Claude Norman
Theodore H. Norton
Victor J. Nosek
Frank M. Nowicki
Eugene M. Nuberger
Frank T. Nugent
Walter J. Oakes
Clarence J. Ogborn
Ralph H. Ogden
Frank M. J. O’Laughlin
John E. Oleson
Edwin S. Olson
Ellis W. Olson
Selmer I. Olson
Dick M. O’Malley
John T. O’Malley
William P. O’Meara
Rodney W. Orange
Abraham R. Orosco
Harold S. Ortoleva
Larry D. Ortwein
Frederick G. Osterholtz
James W. Ostrowski
Erwin W. Overbo
Norman G. Packard
Jerry J. Padilla
Robert L. Palmberg
Joe T. Palmiero
Silvio Pametta
Joseph A. Paradiso
William L. Parsons
Earl V. Paslay
Turner R. Paulsen
Wilburn W. Pearce
Ervin C. Pease
Victor P. Pedersen
Lewis G. Peeler
Rudolph B. Peralta
Matthew F. Perpich
Lloyd Perren
Evar Peterson
Paul E. Peterson
Robert L. Phillips
Douglas A. Phipps
Arthur R. Pineo
William T. Pinkley
Robert Place
Arnold E. Pohle
Harold A. Pohlmann
Paul J. Poli
Michael Polimac
Dale O. Polk
Frank Pollock
Walter G. Pomplun
Eugene B. Pool
Billy S. Poole
Jack Popp
Lorenzo J. Pormigiano
Cayetano R. Porras
Tony N. Portel
Leonard A. Pospyhala
Otis H. Potter
John J. Potts
Donald R. Prenzier
John T. Price
Emil F. Prinz
Paul E. Pruitt
John Ptasynik
Harold E. Pulliam
William J. Pulver
Everett Pyle
Howard L. Pyle
Frank H. Quam
Lloyd Quon
John Qurco
Jack C. Rakovich
John F. Raley
John E. Ramstad
Kent A. Randolph
William J. Rankin, Jr.
Teddy L. Rasberry
John G. Rasmussen
Joseph Rauktis
Douglas H. Rawstron
C#cil 1. Ray
James F. Ray
Fred D. Rea
Lester D. Rector
Edmond T. Redding
John H. Redmon
Harry L. Reed
Edward J. Reichenberger
Frederick W. Reichert
William L. Reiling
Charles H. Reimers
Richard E. Renkel
Ernest W. Renz
John W. Reyes
Ernest C. Reynolds
John T. Reynolds
Eduardo Reys
Robert C. Rheinfels
Donald E. Rhoades
Donald E. Rhodes
Clair F. Rice
Silas C. Richards
Arthur H. Richter
Floyd M. Richter
Theodore Richter
Rex Riddel
Dale F. Rider
Fred Riley, Jr.
Milo E. Rinholt
Trindad D. Rios
David Rivera, Jr.
Hoyt Roberson
Charles W. Roberts
Roy R. Robinson
James V. Rochford
Arthur C. Rodrigues
Ramon M. Rodriguez
Charles H. Rogers
Frank A. Rogers
Charles G. Rosenbaum
Harold Rothchild
Harold W. Roush
C. T. Rowland
Leon Roy
Henry Roza
Ray Runnels
Hobert F. Russell
George C. Sabo
Joe P. Salazar
Ralph E. Sallender
Arville L. Salomon
Everett J. Sal von
George M. Sanders
Refugio Sandoval
Edward J. Sanocki
Roy R. Sansbury
Joseph A. Saratowicz
Samuel A. Sather
Herman Schecter
Wenzel H. Schiell
William J. Schirmer
Frederick G. Schlereth
Alex M. Schmidt
Anthony F. Schmidt
Earl Schmidt
Eddie C. Schmidt
Fredder J. Schmitt
Jacob Schoenblum
David J. Schortgen
Glenn L. Schreider
Victor Schumacher
Harry Scott
James R. Scott
Milton D. Scriber
William D. Sedall
Ernest J. Seevers
Joseph A. Seibert
John L. Seiglmeier
Joseph C. Seilar
Gerald H. Seipp
Ralph R. Shane
Frank Shaw
Milton Shaw
Emmet V. Shea
William J. Shea
John H. Shelton
William H. Shelton
Cloral C. Shepard
William J. Shepherd
Bert V. Sherman
Everett R. Shields
James F. Shields
John C. Shields
Stanley H. Shilliday
Dorsey Shuler
Arthur Shults
Raleigh C. Sieber
Harry E. Silvestri
William O. Silvey
Orville M. Simmons
Raymond M. Simmons
Lawrence Simonian
John Simunevic
John Simunovic
Stanley Siscavage
Milton E. Skogrand
Charles C. Smiley
Alfred L. Smith
Don A. Smith
Edward Smith
Floyd L. Smith
Gail D. Smith
Norman N. Smith
Robert J. Smith
Russell M. Smith
Thomas J. Smith
William H. Smith
Willis Smith
Walter M. Smoger
Stanley Smolinski
Herman H. Sneeringer
Clifford R. Snodderly
Alfred O. Solis
Victor H. Soroken
Alfred M. Soukup
William A. Souza
Joseph P. Spano
Sidney D. Spear
Harold E. Springer
William B. Squires
James Stafford
Harold Stambaugh
Herman L. Staub
Nicholas J. Steensma
William Stein, Jr.
Howe L. Steinhibler
Arvid Sternquist
Albert E. Stevens
Nelson Stevenson
Nelson H. Stevenson
Donald Stewart
Irving Stockfleth
Richard Stoinski
William W. Stonecypher
Melvin G. Stoops
John W. Storay
Clarence E. Stout
William W. Stout. Jr.
Denton H. Stovall
William J. Strawser
Gilbert W. Strobach
Raymond E. Strong
Edward Strougal
Harvey B. Stuart
Lester L. Suits
Joseph P. Sullivan
Fred F. Sundermann
Fred F. Supine, Jr.
Godfrey O. Suttle
Theron B. Sweat
Edward J. Swies
Francis A. Tague
Ezra M. Tanner
Jan R. Tatarski
Holland C. Taubert
Verl A. Taylor
William B. Taylor
Shelby W. Teeters
Dionisio Z. Temellosa
J ames L. Thacker
Peter J. Theriault
Floyd O. Tholund
Benjamin K. Thomas, Jr.
Virgil Thomas
James W. Thompson
Kenneth A. Thompson
Richard W. Thorne
Robert Thornley
Walter R. Thurlow
Jesse L. Timmons
Frank A. Titting
Dee Tomlinson
Rudolph L. Tommei
Rafael Torres
William Toth
Thomas J. Towey
Anthony L. Trashloleros
August Trautner
Andrew' J. Trgina
Ernest S. Tucker, Jr.
Wayne E. Turk
Harvey H. Turner
Deluin E. Vaden
James M. Vainter
Thomas J. Valador
Julius W. Vallier
William L. Vanalstine
Glenn 0. Vanderburg
Fred L. Vanderpool
Clifford L. Vandiver
Marvin E. Van Dyke
Jack P. Van Hoane
Clifford Van Orden
Robert Van Scherpenzell
Lloyd F. Vich
Donald T. Vigue
Mario J. Vilanuva
Peter J. Virseo
Frank J. Vivirito
Herman N. Vogal
Frank Voloshen
Ralph E. Vorce
James J. Voss
Harley E. Walker
Jack R. Walker
Jerry M. Walker
Lee W. Walker. Jr.
Robert Waller
Charles H. Walter
Douglas E. Walwyn
Roman E. Wantock
Lee Ward
Lloyd L. Ward
William Little Warrior
Edwin R. Waters
Reed P. Waters
Merle 0. Watkins
Clinton Watson
Ray H. Watson
Robert C. Watson
Wyatt B. Watts
Arthur W. Wavrick
Keith M. Weeks
David Welch
Oscar G. Wells
Bernard Whelan
Everett V. White
Keith D. White
Lyle Whitney
Raymond L. Wieder
Clyde P. Wilds
Clifford C. Wilkening
Leonard Wilkins, Sr.
George G. Willard
Thomas N. William
Edhred M. Williams
Edmund K. Williams
Fein D. Williams
Lincoln J. Williams
Vinton A. Williams
Ed Wilson
Trumnn Winkler
Michael Wirnshafer
James A. Wojtech
Donald L. Wolff
Howard D. Wood
Clyde Woods
John E. Wooldridge
Royce D. Wooten
James E. Worthley
John F. Woulfe
James P. Wright
Troy W. Yacham
Glenn W. Yates
Walter D. Yates
Andy M. Yoka
Boleslaus Zdanczewicz
Edward Zebelian
John I.. Zeiglmeier
Joseph Zelasnikar
Isidore A. Ziebolz
Junior H. Zirkle
Carliss Zook
Thomas L. Zoto
Victor Zueco
Bruno F. Zurewski
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Original from
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Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.0rg/access_use#pd-g00gle
Decorations and Awards
Randal K. Balch
Leonard C. DeWitt
Roy L. Dietsch k
Jordon W. Davis
Jens A. Doe
Leon F. Alder, Jr.
Frank W. Aldrich
Lee L. Alfred
Robert M. Allen
Arthur C. Anderson
Donald N. Anderson
Virgil L. Anderson
Forest M. Andrews
Richard Andrews
Carlyle W. Arey
Argyle E. Armstrong
Byron A. Armstrong
Kenneth E. Arthur
Charles D. Ashcraft k
Merton E. Austin
William C. Baden
Wnyne C. Bailey kk
Isaac J. Baker
Lloyd J. Baker
Wilfred D. Baker
Mark E. Barnard
William J. Barnett
William C. Barson kk
James H. Bay
Dwight E. Beach
Arthur Belgarde
Benjamin C. Bell
William C. Benson kk
Otis Berlin
Louis J. Bilek
Stewart H. Boelsen
James W. Boland k
Lawrence L. Bourlier
George W. Boyd
Frank A. Bradbury
Horace C. Bradbury
Arthur J. Braman
Byron A. Brim
Matt C. C. Bristol, Jr.
Mike Brklacich
Melbourne E. Brooks
Douglas F. Brown
Elmer Brown
William B. Brown kk
James M. Buckland
Charles R. Buxton irk
Harold G. Cahill
Claude R. Carr
Guy W. Carroll
Glenn E. Case
Angelo Castelli ★
Sanders M. Castor
George S. Caswell
Paul A. Caulfield
Bill K. Chapman
Charles B. Claypool
Billie J. Click
Robert L. Cloud
Alfred E. Coffey
Ralph E. Cole
Robert A. Cole k
Rhea A. Cooley
William H. Cooley
Burl L. Cox
Vincent S. Cunningham
Hubert G. Curry
Richard E. Curry, Jr.
Robert F. Dalton
Herman E. Daniels
Foy A. Davis
Stanley C. Davison
Charles R. Dawley
Don D. DeFord
Raymond E. Derrick
Tom Dewhurst
Neal A. Dikeman irk
David S. Dillard
Jen's A. Doe kkk
Harold H. Doersnm
Wnyne C. Bailey
George M. Baldwin
Elmer Brown
Chalmers D. Corle
Milton Drexler
★ Denotes posthumous
Distinguished Service Cross
Frank R. Gehrman
Glen J. Hansen
Nicholas W. Hatfield
John R. Jacobucci
By rum D. Jones k
Albert J. Langhan
Harold M. Lindstrom
John H. McRoberst
John L. Mohl
Melvin C. Monroe
Joseph F. Montore
Everett L. Moore
Edward Morales k
Paul E. Peterson
Walter R. Rankin
Medal
Distinguished Service
Jens A. Doe kk Horace H. Fuller
Benito R. Dominguez
Leo B. Doubek
Kenneth C. Downing
Milton Drexler
Albert R. Driggers
John J. Drum
Wilson E. DuBois
Henry J. Dubsky
Edmund G. Ducommun
Karl F. Duell
Duncan V. DuPree k
James J. Eder
Samuel E. Eley
Conway L. Ellers irk
Robert S. Elliot
Edward E. Enders
T. C. Epps
Pius Erck
Bernardo C. Escobar
Ralph M. Evans
Russel R. Field
Charles S. Fields
Harold R. Fisk
Lloyd M. Flaten
Maurice M. Fletcher
Ralph D. Floberg
William B. Foster
David E. Fowler
Dan B. Free
Horace H. Fuller
Alcide Gallant
Steven J. Gardner
Owen D. Gaskell k
Frederick R. Gehring
Ernest Gerber
Herbert E. Gerfen
Ray J. Gibney
Dale E. Gibson
Raymond W. Goerke k
Samuel P. Gordon
John H. Graham
James M. Gray
Kenesaw Greathouse
Grant S. Green
James H. Griffin
Leslie E. Griffiths
Herman H. Haedicke
Howard H. Hafer
Harold C. Halverson
Ralph E. Hamel
Andrew C. Hamilton
Robert M. Hamilton
Harold Haney kk
Clifford L. Hanson
Lester E. Hanson
Charles W. Hash
Paul G. Hassler k
Nicholas W. Hatfield
Harold M. Hawkins
Byron W. Hazelton
Robert L. Heath
Lawrence J. Hebert
Pat M. Heist
Carl T. Hellis
Dean D. Henry
Emory L. Heyn
Russell L. Hodges
Alvin M. Hn ff man
John L. Hoffman
William Holder
James Holgnchak
Paul G. Hollister kk
Charles L. Hornbeck
Francis J. Hovorka
Theodore P. Howe k
Donald F. Hulin
Paul Hultman, Jr.
Maurice E. Hundahl
Paul E. Hunter
Myron W. Folsom
Alvin F. Graverholz
John F. Haley
Harold Haney kk
John A. Hnrris
Silver Star
Frank W. Hurliman
Oscar J. Irwin
William D. Jackson
Clifton G. James
John G. Jeffers
Walter J. Jendrzejewski
Howard B. Jensen
Francis Jette k
Jessie J. Jewell
Raymond V. Jones
Bernard Kaplan
Seymour R. Katz k
James R. Kent
Walter W. King
Charles G. Kitchens
Louis J. Kline k
Chester F. Klovas
Louis M. Krist
Earl E. Kueker k
Frank W. Kuempel
Sam F. Lambert
Howard M. Lang
Howard H. Lassegnrd
Herbert G. Lauterbach
Jerome Lazarus
Kenneth C. Leach
David G. LeBaron
Edward L. Ledermnn
Clarence E. Lee
John B. Lee k
Charles Leon
Maurice L. Levy
Charles A. Lindsey
Harold M. Lindstrom
Joseph M. Lirzkowicz
Donald F. Locke
Archie H. Lofts
Phillip W. Long
James A. Lufkin
Alois W. Luhr
Einar A. Lund
Robert E. Lundstrom
Thomas C. Lynch
Carl E. Maffeo
Harold G. Maison
Carl D. Makart
Joseph J. Mannerillo
William M. Mantz
Harold L. Marshall
Harry W. Martin Jr. k
Ronald G. Martin
Jean Martinez
William Matlin **
Ray J. Mnttice
Frank E. Maxnm
Weston A. McCormac
Willard F. McDonald
Jack E. McEnchen
Robert L. McGill ★
Thomas A. McGinitie
Frank F. McGuinness
Melvin C. McHenry
Joseph R. Mclnerney
Carl M. McIntyre
Howard A. McKinney
Jack C. McLoughlin
Keith D. McMilan
Reed D. McMilan
Donald R. McNeil
Lawrence W r . McNight
Phillip E. Mead
Arthur Merrick
Wendell C. Messec kk
Albert L. Meuller
Robert A. Mikkelson ★*
Harold E. Mill»r
Harry W. Miller
Walter L. Miller. Jr.
Robert W. Minner k
Legion of Merit
Irving H. Hoyt
Edward E. Kramer
Weston A. McCormac
Michael G. Mehilos
Robert W. Mipper
Salvatore F. Mirenda
John A. Mitchell
Joseph D. Mitchell kk
Kenneth Mitchell
Owen T. Monaghan
Walter E. Moore
Earl R. Moorehead
Ralph S. Morris
William J. Moroney
Gerald W. Morrison
Ralph W. Nay
James F. Neely
Emil L. Nelson
Robert A. Nelson
John 0. Newman
Oliver P. Newman ★★
Ralph A. Nicholas
Wendall Noall
Frant T. Nugent k
Loren E. O'Dell
Thomas F. O’Donnell
Kenneth V. Olberg
John E. Oleson*
Edwin S. Olson
John D. Orr
Ralph W. Oswald
Erwin W. Overbo k
Ralph W. Palmer
John S. Panek
Elmo R. Parish
Peder R. Pederson
Milan W. Peel kk
Sidney E. Pendexter, Jr.
Charles E. Peterson
Rudolph B. Peralta k
Robert B. Pharr
Charles P. Phelps
John W. Phoebus
James A. Poinsett
Michael Polimac k
Marion J. Porterfield
Arthur Possoni
John J. Potts k
William J. Powers
Harold E. Poynter
Reed G. Probst
Oscar J. Rainville, Jr.
Walter R. Rankin
Edward L. Reams
Robert E. Read
Joseph Reddoor
Marion F. Reed
Robert L. Reeves
Clarence E. Reid
Albert A. Rendler
John B. Retterath
Robert C. Rheinfels k
Cecil C. Rhodes
Eulon Richardson
Robert W. Richardson
John J. Rigler
Edward G. Ripani
Harry N. Rising, Jr. irk
Herve G. Robert
Douglas C. Robinson
Oliver K. Robinson
Fritz F. Roll, Jr.
William L. Rollman
Archibald B. Roosevelt kk
Victor Rosanio
Raymond Q. Roseth
Edward L. Ross, Jr.
Richardson D. Roys
Charles H. Rue
Alexander G. Rutka
Marcus P. Sanchez
Richard J. Sntran
Harry M. Sayka
Arthur Molyneux
William L. Morris
Charles W. Mueller
Rodney W. Orange
Oscar Rumack
Distinguished Flying Cross
Samuel P. Gordon John A. Robinson
award. kk Denotes Oak Leaf Cluster, kkk Denotes second Oak Leaf Cluster.
182
Wilmer K. Rummel
George F. Singletary, Jr.
Charles M. Solley, Jr.
Thomas B. Williams
Paul Ziegele
William F. Schacht
Oscar A. Scheller
Harold E. Schiefelbein
Wenzel H. Schiell *
Lloyd B. Schiffman
George C. Schultz
Ralph W. Sconce
James V. Schully, Jr.
William J. Shaw **
John H. Shelton k
William T. Sherwood
Archie L. Shovan
Raymond M. Simmons
Robert E. Simpson
Albin C. Sipe, Jr.
Walter D. Skauge
Walter H. Skielvig
Richard S. Slade
Harry C. Smith
Harry R. Smith
Nathan J. Sonnenfeld
John Sponenburgh
Joseph Stasiowski
Eldo E. Sutton
Kenneth S. Sw-eany
R. A. Sweetland
Stephen A. Swisher III
William B. Taylor k
Robert D. Teel a
Dionisio Z. Temellosa ★
Robert Templeton
Richard N. Ten Eyck
Richard B. Thierolf
Clifton B. Thomas
Haskell S. Thompson
Edwin S. Tipple
Silvior Tontar
Vernon F. Townsend
John J. Tracy, Jr.
Rob D. Trimble
Harry C. Trodick
Henry L. Tullock
Harry J. Van De Riet
Jack H. Van Duyn
Marvin E. VanDyke
Oliver R. Vannucci
Robert Van Scherpenzell k
William Vavra
Robert W. Vogt
Norman Voorhees
Edward L. Waisbrot
Francis C. W’allace
Phillip Warner
George E. Waterman
Robert C. Watson
Wyatte B. Watts k
William R. Weaver
Robert E. Wells
Paul V. Wendell
Jack C. White
John B. White
Jerome J. Wilczewski
Edgar F. Wildfong ★★
Charles W. Wilkenson
Hurshal A. Wilson
Robert O. Wilson
Leland S. Winetraub
Leonard A. Wing
Leslie O. Winkler kk
Maurice D. Winslow
Raymond S. Winther
Henry T. Wise
Hubert E. Wright, Jr.
Horace L. Young
Emil A. Zall
Albert J. Znleski
Isidore A. Ziebolz
Paul Ziegele
Junior H. Zirkle k
Edwin A. Zundel
Walter H. Skielvig
Harry Steward
Herbert T. Warren
Gould Whaley
Edwin A. Zundel k'k
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Battle Honors
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington, May 6, 1943
General Orders
No. 21
IV. Citation of units in the United States Forces in South-
west Pacific Area. As authorized by Executive Order No.
9075 (sec. Ill, Bull. 11, W.D., 1942), citation in the name
of the President of the United States, as public evidence of
deserved honor and distinction, was awarded to the following
named forces. The citation is as follows:
The Papuan Forces, United States Army, Southwest Pacific
Area, 1 are cited for outstanding performance of duty in action
during the period July 23, 1942, to January 23, 1943. When
a bold and aggressive enemy invaded Papua in strength, the
combined action of ground and air units of these forces, in
association with Allied units, checked the hostile advance,
drove the enemy back to the seacoast and in a series of actions
against a highly organized defensive zone, utterly destroyed
him. Ground combat forces, operating over roadless jungle-
covered mountains and swamps, demonstrated their courage
and resourcefulness in closing with an enemy who took every
advantage of the nearly impassable terrain. Air forces, by
repeatedly attacking the enemy ground forces and installations,
by destroying his convoys attempting reinforcement and sup-
ply, and by transporting ground forces and supplies to areas
for which land routes were nonexistent and sea routes slow
and hazardous, made possible the success of the ground opera-
tions. Service units, operating far forward of their normal
positions and at times in advance of ground combat elements,
built landing fields in the jungle, established and operated
supply points, and provided for the hospitalization and evacua-
tion of the wounded and sick. The courage, spirit, and devo-
tion to duty of all elements of the command made possible
the complete victory attained.
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington 25, D.C., 16 July 1945
General Orders
No. 57
BATTLE HONORS. As authorized by Executive Order
9396 (sec. I, WD Bulk 22, 1943), superseding Executive
Order 9075 (sec. Ill, WD Bull. 11, 1942), citations of the
following units in the general orders indicated are confirmed
under the provisions of section IV, WD Circular 333, 1943,
in the name of the President of the United States as public
evidence of deserved honor and distinction:
1. The 1st Battalion, I62d Infantry Regiment, is cited for
outstanding performance of duty against the enemy near
Salamaua, New Guinea, from 29 June to 12 September 1943.
On 29 and 30 June 1943, this battalion landed at Nassau
Bay, New Guinea, in one of the first amphibious operations
by American forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, on a beach
held by the enemy, and during a severe storm which destroyed
90 percent of the landing craft able to reach the beach. Mov-
ing inland through deep swamps, crossing swift rivers, cutting
its way through dense jungle, over steep ridges, carrying by
hand all weapons, ammunition, and food, assisted by only a
‘Includes the 163d Infantry.
limited number of natives, this battalion was in contact with
the enemy for 76 consecutive days without rest or relief. All
operations after the initial landing were far inland. Living
conditions were most severe because of constant rain, mud,
absence of any shelter, tenacious enemy, and mountainous
terrain. The supply of rations, ammunition, and equipment
was meager. For 5 weeks all personnel lived on rations
dropped by airplane, for days at a time on half rations. Indi-
vidual cooking was necessary throughout the period. Malaria
and battle casualties greatly depleted their ranks, but at no
time was there a let-up in morale or in determination to
destroy the enemy. Each officer and enlisted man was called
upon to give his utmost of courage and stamina. The bat-
talion killed 584 Japanese during this period, while suffering
casualties of 11 officers and 176 enlisted men. Cutting the
Japanese supply line near Mubo, exerting constant pressure
on his flank, the valiant and sustained efforts of this battalion
were in large part instrumental in breaking enemy resistance
and forcing his withdrawal from Salamaua on 12 September
1943. The 1st Battalion, 162 Infantry Regiment, has estab-
lished a worthy combat record, in keeping with the high
traditions of the United States Army. [General Orders 91,
Headquarters 41 st Infantry Division, 18 December 1944, as
approved by Commanding General, United States Army Forces
in Far East.]
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington 25, D.C., 22 September 1944
General Orders
No 76
BATTLE HONORS. As authorized by Executive Order No.
9396 (sec. I, Bull. 22, WD, 1943, 1943), superseding Execu-
tive Order No. 9075 (sec. Ill, Bull. 11, WD, 1942), citation
of the following unit in General Orders No. 95, Headquarters
Sixth Army, 18 June 1944, as approved by the Commanding
General, United States Army Forces in the Far East, is con-
firmed under the provision of section IV, Circular No. 333,
War Department, 1943, in the name of the President of the
United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinc-
tion. The citation reads as follows:
The 2d Platoon, Company L, 163d Infantry, is cited for out-
standing performance of duty and for heroism near Aitape,
New Guinea. On 27 April 1944 this unit, with personnel
attached to make a strength of 3 officers and 64 enlisted men,
established a trail block at Kamti, part of Kapoam village in
the Terricelli mountain foothills, to cover enemy escape routes.
At 280700 an enemy force of approximately 200 attacked
with fixed bayonets from three sides, but was thrown back
after fierce fighting. Forty-two enemy were killed, while the
platoon losses were 2 men killed and 1 wounded. Though
communications were cut, the platoon maintained its position
for 36 hours, receiving supplies by air. After withdrawing 29
April to receive reinforcements, the platoon again formed and
maintained the trail block where, that night, another enemy
attack was repulsed with losses of 1 man killed and 2
wounded. The exemplary endurance, determination, and
bravery of the members of this platoon reflect the highest
credit on the United States Army.
183
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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Commendations
HEADQUARTERS 41st INFANTRY DIVISION
26 August 1944
General Orders
No. 65
Recent landings at Wardo and Korim Bay have broken all
active organized resistance of the Japanese. The 4 1st Infantry'
Division may well be proud of its action against the enemy in
the Biak operation. The victory was difficult. We take pride
in the fact that the Division came through with a shining
record. Information obtained after the landing showed the
Japanese strength to be approximately 11,000. The counted
enemy dead to date is over 4,700. In addition to that, there
are thousands of uncounted dead and over 330 prisoners.
The survivors are dying of starvation and disease. We have
liberated some 600 Javanese citizens of the Netherlands Indies
and 25,000 natives. While our losses cause a note of sadness
to each and every one of us, they were only a very small
fraction of the casualties inflicted upon the enemy.
Our arduous days of training in learning the use of our
superior weapons enable us to keep our losses down. We
intend to take advantage of every one of the stratagems of
modern war to exploit our material advantages to save the
lives of our men.
This is the first time the Division has operated as a unit.
Sanananda, Salamaua, Aitape, Hollandia, Toem, Wakde, saw
operations of portions of the Division. The Biak operation
finally allowed the Division to operate as a whole and to
evaluate its worth as a unit. How well it did operate is
reflected in the victory obtained at Biak.
The enemy was a cunning, aggressive foe. He was from a
veteran division of the China and Burma campaigns. His
record was superb and during this action he maintained it.
Defeating this enemy was an accomplishment which reflects
great credit on the Task Force.
The artillery has well demonstrated its capabilities. The
excellent tactical and technical employment of the artillery
has made the task of the infantry much easier. The artillery
in its support cracked enemy strongpoints; it was accurate,
enabling the infantry to close with minimum losses. The
artillery forward observers, liaison pilots and their enlisted
assistants, have shared the hazards of the infantry. The gun-
ners and the ammunition details performed well in keeping
the guns operating.
Our medical corps performed in its usual outstanding man-
ner. Their devotion to duty in caring for our wounded is
worth every bit of praise we can bestow. The medical per-
sonnel of the Division have received more decorations in
proportion to their numbers than any other branch.
Our supply services, the ordnance, quartermaster, medical,
signal and engineers were not found wanting. Their con-
tribution to the common effort was notable.
The Division engineers made possible the forward move-
ment of the infantry' by construction of roads, by demolition
crews often sharing the intense fire of the infantry in order
to accomplish their mission.
In communications, one of the most important factors in
controlling troops, our signal corps functioned as a fine
integrated team. Not only the Division signal company, but
the signal communication teams of the artillery, infantry and
other units, carried out their duties under trying and hazardous
conditions.
No other task in the Division is comparable to the load
carried by the infantry soldier. He is our only reason for
existence. He is the man who captures and holds the ground.
He carries the fight to the enemy. The infantry soldier was
the one who met in hand-to-hand combat the crack troops
of the Japanese, threw him from his positions, destroyed him,
and gave us our victory. To these men we are eternally grate-
ful and a pride rises in our hearts that is going to carry us
on from victory to victory in the future.
We had with us attached personnel — antiaircraft units, addi-
tional artillery, service troops. Each and every one did his
part to assist in securing the victory we have gained. The
whole was an integrated team which has carried on to com-
plete successfully the mission assigned.
To every member of the division and attached units I extend
my congratulations on the record you have made. You have
fulfilled the highest traditions of the military service of the
United States Armed Forces.
JENS A. DOE
Major General, U. S. Army
Commanding
HEADQUARTERS
ARMY GROUND FORCES
Office of the Commanding General
Washington 25, D.C.
10 January 1946
Subject: Letter of Appreciation
To : Commanding General, 4 1st Infantry Division
The 4lst Infantry Division which contributed splendidly to
our glorious victory over Japanese tyranny and aggression,
will forever be honored and cherished by a grateful nation.
Your division was committed to action in January 1943,
when the 163d Infantry Regiment plunged into combat at
Sanananda, Papua. Lacking naval support, and relying on
supplies flown in over the Owen Stanley Mountains, the regi-
ment emerged bearing the marks of jungle fighting at its
worst. This action, which helped stem the Jap tide threaten-
ing Port Moresby, won for the Regiment the Distinguished
Unit Citation.
Storming ashore at Salamaua in June 1943, the l62d Infan-
try Regiment began 76 days of unrelieved fighting, a record
in jungle warfare. Your division’s 1000 mile campaign
through the New Guinea jungles, which included assault
landings at Aitape, action at Hollandia, Toem-Wakde, and
Biak Island in the Schoutens, will forever be a bright chapter
in the history of your organization.
Now, upon the inactivation of the 4 1st Infantry Division,
it is a privilege for me to commend you, your officers, and
your men for your outstanding accomplishments on the field
of battle.
JACOB L. DEVERS
General, USA
Commanding
184
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
COMMENDATIONS
185
WAR DEPARTMENT
THE CHIEF OF STAFF
Washington
18 January 1946
Dear General Doe:
I appreciate your thoughtfulness and that of the officers and
men of the 41 st Division in sending me the Japanese sword
taken by your Division in the Kure-Hiroshima area of Japan.
I am aware of the splendid performance of the 4 1st Divi-
sion and, having served as Chief of Staff of the IX Corps
when the 4lst was undergoing its training under that head-
quarters, I am proud of its accomplishments.
Sincerely,
IKE EISENHOWER
Major General Jens A. Doe, 03743
Hq 4 1st Inf. Div., APO 41
c/o P.M., San Francisco, California
ORDER OF THE DAY
On Completion of
RECAPTURE OF BUNA-GONA AREA
Headquarters, New Guinea Force,
22 January 1943
The campaign we have been engaged in for the recapture of
the Buna-Gona area is now virtually at a close. I desire to
express to all Australians and Americans alike who have taken
part in this long and tedious campaign my heartfelt con-
gratulations and my appreciation of all you have done.
First to the Infantry I would like to pay a special tribute.
Seldom have Infantry been called on to endure greater hard-
ships or discomfort than those provided by the mountains,
swamps, the floods, of tropical New Guinea. All this you
have endured with cheerfulness and meantime have outfought
a dour and determined enemy on ground of his own choosing
in well prepared defenses. Your achievements have been such
as to earn the admiration and appreciation of all your country-
men.
Secondly, I would thank the Air Forces for their magnifi-
cent work, for the shattering blows they have delivered to the
air forces of the enemy and his ships, which have tried so
often and so vainly to reinforce and supply him. To the air
transport service which made this campaign a feasible opera-
tion, for your untiring efforts in ail weathers, I thank you.
Thirdly, there are all those who have supported so
splendidly the Infantry in their fighting, the Armored Regi-
ment, the Artillery, the Engineers and the Army Co-operation
Squadron, and the Medical Services who have cared for sick
and wounded in most difficult circumstances. You have done
magnificently.
Fourthly, I want to thank all those in the Services who
have kept supplies of all kinds going to the forward troops,
and also COSC and all its personnel and particularly its small
boat section that has braved hazardous waters and enemy
action in getting supplies up the coast.
And finally my thanks to the Navy for its assistance in
protecting sea routes and clearing the waters round the battle
area and farther north.
We have won a striking victory but a long and hard road
lies ahead. All I ask is that all of you maintain the standard
you have set. I know you will.
E. F. HERRING
Lieutenant-General
GOC New Guinea Force
HEADQUARTERS 4 1st INFANTRY DIVISION
26 April 1943
General Orders
No. 7
1. I wish to congratulate the officers and men of this Divi-
sion for the outstanding manner in which they have conducted
operations since arrival in New Guinea and also for the praise
and compliments which their efforts have brought to this
Division in the recent inspection by Lieutenant General Walter
Krueger, commander of the Sixth Army.
2. General Krueger stated that General Douglas Mac-
Arthur, Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific, wished the
4 1st Division to know how highly pleased he had been with
its performance and the results of its operations in New
Guinea. General Krueger added that he felt exactly the same
and was proud to have the 4lst Division as part of his Sixth
Army.
3. General Krueger was high in his praise of the soldierly
manner of the officers and men of this Division. He paid
special compliment to the military courtesies observed, espe-
cially saluting, correct manner of reporting and general disci-
pline of the entire command. One occasion, General Krueger
said, "You can always tell when an officer or a man is from
the 4 1st because he salutes.”
4. General Krueger, in addition, indicated he was extremely
well pleased with the way the Division had improved its
living conditions and prepared defensive works despite the
tropic conditions encountered in this area.
5. Again, I wish to congratulate the Division for its
soldierly manner and excellent conduct of operations which
have brought these commendations. It is my desire that every
officer and man of this Division be informed of the high
opinion held by General MacArthur, General Krueger and
myself.
H. H. FULLER
Major General, U. S. Army
Commanding
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
186
COMMENDATIONS
HEADQUARTERS 163d INFANTRY
OFFICE OF THE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER
April 29, 1943
Memorandum:
1. A certified copy of Senate Joint Resolution No. 1 has
been sent to this headquarters by the Montana Legislature, and
is reproduced for the information of all personnel of this
Regiment:
Senate Joint Resolution No. 1
A joint resolution recognizing the victories of Montands
16 3d Infantry Regiment, USA, expressing the gratitude of
the people of Montana to the Regiment and providing for a
cable message from the Legislature to the Regiment in the
combat zone of the South Pacific Theater of War.
Whereas, the official military reports emanating from Gen-
eral Douglas MacArthur’s Headquarters in the south Pacific
as released by the War Department, and the news dispatches
cabled by observers, make manifest that the 163d Infantry —
Montana’s own — has won imperishable fame in the jungles
and on the heights of New Guinea in most arduous combat
against an implacable foe; and has from the very outbreak
of hostilities demonstrated the finest attributes of the Ameri-
can soldier, in devotion to training, in fraternization and co-
operation with the free peoples of the great Pacific world to
the south, and in the deep resolve to establish the rule of
law among the nations of the earth; and
The Sixth Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana,
by Senate Joint Resolution No. 3, approved February 22, 1899,
recognized the same valiant manhood displayed by the military
predecessors of the present Regiment, the First Montana
Volunteer Infantry, which at that time had distinguished
itself near the city of Manila in the Philippine Islands, and
such Legislative Assembly, more than forty-three years ago,
cabled to that Regiment an expression of the pride and
gratitude of Montana’s people; in the years between, the
Second Montana Infantry Regiment, immediate predecessor,
furnished to the American Expeditionary Force in France,
officers and men, who with our allies repulsed the savage
hordes of the Prussian General Staff, then and now intent on
enslavement of those who oppose the substitution of might
for right, and brought back their Colors covered with the
streamers and ribands of the great victories in France and
Flanders; and
Their successor, the present 163d Infantry Regiment, has
emblazoned anew the heroic traditions of the Regiment by
annihilating a great Japanese army on the Papuan Peninsula
of New Guinea to win the first great land battle of the
Japanese- American war; and has thereby again demonstrated
the unconquerable resolution of Montana’s free mountaineers;
and
The hearts of all of the people of Montana, while vibrant
with affection for the Regiment, are burdened with the pain
of its losses, and determined to repay the holy obligation
resulting from these sacrifices, by solemnly assuming the re-
sponsibilities of free men in support of the reign of law
throughout the earth:
Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-
eighth Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana, the
House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative
Assembly tenders to every officer and to every man of the
I63d Infantry Regiment the deep gratitude of the whole body
of our citizens for the great victory which our men have
won, purchased with the blood of many of their bravest,
hopeful that the Regiment will accept this expressioil as an
evidence of the love and the devotion which we have for it,
and which sustains us on the home front and inspires us to
dedicate each day to aid our men overseas;
That we asked the Commanding Officer of the Regiment,
when this Resolution is placed in his hands, to communicate
the continuing homage of Montana people to General Douglas
Mac Arthur, whose father, General Arthur Mac Arthur, led the
Montana Regiment of 1899 to a victory that brought freedom
to the Filipinos who have proved their brotherhood with us
and with whose help General Douglas MacArthur as his
father’s successor, and with the aid of our Regiment, will
restore those peoples of the isles of the Pacific to the dignity
of men.
Be it further resolved, that duly authenticated copies of
this Resolution be transmitted by the Secretary of State of the
State of Montana, through secure military channels, to the
Commanding Officer of the 163d Infantry Regiment, and to
each Company Commander in said Regiment and to General
Douglas MacArthur; and in order that this long pent-up ex-
pression of our whole people, who are represented at large
only by this Legislative Assembly, may be made known to the
Regiment as soon as possible,
Be it further resolved, that the following message be cabled
at once, through military or other appropriate channels, to
the Commander of the 163d Infantry Regiment to the combat
zone:
"With vibrant admiration for your magnificent victory over
the Japanese on the Papuan Peninsula of New Guinea and
elsewhere, with prayers for the wounded and with undying
resolve to carry on the high purpose of our noble dead, the
hearts of the people of Montana are with you, beating as
one every hour of every day. The Twenty-Eighth Legislative
Assembly of Montana in session at Helena.”
Approved March 5, 1943
SAM C. FORD
Governor
ERNEST T. EATON
President of the Senate
GEO. W. O’CONNOR
Speaker of the House
2. The above will be read to all troops at the first formation
following receipt.
By order of Lt. Colonel MASON:
JAMES R. KENT
Capt., 163d Inf.
Adjutant
OFFICIAL:
JAMES R. KENT
Capt., 163d Inf.
Adjutant
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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mmmrn
■
'Mpj.-,G*if. Innrt P; Swtff, Commanding G«n*ro), f Corp s.
Mo/. G#« Keo/ort A, Joyce, Commanding General, tX Corps.
C. S/'bsrr, Commanding G*r\*r<j(, % Carps.
Mttj. Gen. franklin
Ma'( Gen P. VV, Cforlrscn, Commondirtg General, * Owp*.
v-j;
Li. Gen. Robert L. Bichalberget, Commanding General, Eighth Army .
Li. Gen . Walter Krueger, Commanding General, 5 ir&fi Arm*.
■UMBERS ^OF' M
jjp^l 1
55 *, :. *> 1 "
Commanders of the Sunset Division
assigned to duty it the VS. M4tbify Academy at V^-Vst Point,
He emoKed in the < omnurid and General Staff School,
Fort Lt-avea^rih.; in Augajtf 1 92\- and following
b\y gf^dtjation m jube 5 92,6. tic went to (-hm* for duty w ith
thc-.JMh IrdVofry M T rents, rn until January He then
tbo Ufiifced States and joiisirdf the l&h fhGntty af
Fisrf Jsiy, New Vofk, He commanded th£ MaclUftc^Gw
J&ftfesl &l (be i st. Brigade at Camp £tfx f £few jersey, from
April', ro .August i'9^2, alter . which he. enrolled in the Army
War Colley ^. Washthgton.. D. C, from which lie gradu-
ated the foUbsGhg June . He was promoted- In T<eaien>ut
• id end on l January I v -\r> and served as uvanjc iror at the
Command and Gcfetvd Suit School at Fort Lcawth worth until
June 1957* '.H'» he# alignment was as professor of military
Science the - Vuiv&sity of California at 'Berkeley.
In Scptefdvr > V !u, he. jOjned the Mi Division -»r Fort OrJ,
CaiifhJfok, arid a^vumeil command of. the 1 7th ftifaofty M
<M •post m I't boi^ry 1947. • He; --v/as prompted to ovibod
(fumporury) on 26 June )9^y ^ul in Apr?) Jy-G he w-a>
Ipfefe/rcti ri«e 1 7th Irwamn; to San Luis Obispo. 'Qfc-
fovoeg 'ivhcrt; W.>?.nvtii>ud until June- HH2. wheat nt -w^
given an a.vuguracbt in the South. Pac ific Theater of Opera-
tions,. ■ ■ • , ■. • -
Ih World War U. Colonel 0<k‘ irfst wr MCtion m hh
{■aropafgti when, the HgAd Ai^ViyiisiMt^^c
Mo/Of Gttn*/ol i#n* A Detr
}&>$ A. Doe was horn iti Qhc ago, “UlmotS; on 20 lone
Ihvf. He- graduated from the Military Academy and was
appointed a second lieutenant on 12 June 19 14: '
He. served with the l itb Jnfarttly at Texas Gt)V To>U.s t
•hnt|l December 1914 ami then moved to NscOv. Arjafona, and
a few weeks .later to Doughs, Arizona, where he remained
on^l May '■><• with his regnnenr. Meanwhile he was pro-
moted ip/ fmt . I itutem a n t voir \ July t9i6 and to g^ptam on
D M^y 4.91?, Between May and August Ml 7 he served at
Fptr pgiethorpe, Gcofjgjk, V#h the ll.th Infantry and then
enrolled in the Machine *Gu?i Course- of- Infantry and
Artillery School jt Fort Sift. Oklahoma from which fvc gradu-
ated jn October . At’ A division
school at Fort Oglethorpe anti in J 917 assumed
command of Uvr Hifc. MadmieASuu BaiUliUa at that post.
He vailed for Frame in April. 19Di.
Hl was m<te a mjar (t&npbmif.) on 7 June 19(8 and
wa?- >ich i>ivUiOn MaChin^Gatl/Ofbcer ..hr France Horn June
to July 1 91' 8, t hen 'was assigned .<> conttnandmg officer - of the
Hfh Machine-Gun Baftahon. He parfithpaicd ki the St.
Mjtoict aw<l the Meuse ' Argopne Oiftiisfvo, ,
HV ojrgjmuftd and became instructor in the Acmy Madhne
Gun S^iipdl, ?jt luingres, f f^oefe, itt ^%vchijfcr d^iftf aod Crfve
'moti.th hirer -v» as a-^fgmd ys an mdnuUOi at rhe if
SdioOiS. He erirolUd au the Amhery Center. Oi&mlk>i\
TVaiice. in , hlay G>f^r wstv’ grad’u^red one- month, Uter and
to thif; Afal lofanit)'. He retunoed tk? the Umtrd
Sutx^With fHiS unff m jumy i 91 9, and »vtmt to Camp Bcu
: : omg\ Citbr^'ic where iu be betarw m in-
wf rotten ai the Infantry fehooh ihc rn^jorh) was rn^de per-
*ii wiled t on X He cnmUed iff die Fidd Offers'
i o: xhf; Ini :u thy Si hoo\ Stptemher V>>», and w;t*
gradUafed in May V922 , He rh^n to the 2d lr>
famry at ‘f ort Shcrrd^n; fliinoB,. Mithiot-GuD Offictr
at Gimp Caster- Michigan, from May to July i$2& then’ was-
COMMANDERS OF THE SUNSET D 5 VISION
An Oak Loaf Cluster to $ur t&rntd ' m World -was A&igtiid lo the ifth Ov<y, iirst
Wit l yjfii presented to Kim in 1JM.V with .this viutioo: Keuferunt on 12 jun<f tel ft ^nd transferred- Mo- fW Field A jr-
uiterYt to rank team I July 191 <S. ReiOrniag ta tLr United
in. tte Southwest Pacific Mjutie T*W, bt mmn&tp Kf.' served' at Fort Bite, twfc,* the' l?th C^Iry
k;jfckrH.ip inii iicvouon. to dut%* und<^ j^nanese m%chine*cun, /ifie ; Kt ., lV _ *, ■■ ' ’ j . . . ... . - . .,* ■:'.wk 1 ‘j
j rid n rut far tin; and ta personally moving among ferW^nj a*fttuif fe *Vfe) 1/1.7% flCvWA*. fuuinottu to utp.Um on I- i •yl / -
trorips By his v'wlcn manner and courageous aajOos, lie greatly fe July; of he was U^sferfed £0. tbV lliti Field
jjxffljffi'tbc v^uttoi. Arhftery. serving at' Douglas, An*oh&.
. i / * , f ,. , <, , c i ) a November tel 7 he w.is ardiiTVyl to Fon $KK Oklahoma,
• tot Cluster to the Stiver Star was presented ^ , s t uden t # ,j )e School of F»w f«CBdd Artillery, remain-
m Mr ; > md the citation reau. mg there until January .to». He rejoined the t »0r l-Vf.l
P"? sallmtif in actum at Zatobuaega, Mnklmuu, V t >'t< mi W Artillery at Douglas *ud. ort-SMi a.re-.i toe unit tft • '•»* '• Sul
Mar* 45 to, is April -15. During fm’fae <n the vrtftUiy r>f i>tvV- where he served utitil July iyta. Mis temponwy promotioo
s'ion ' C«.»mnurtdtr. Cktittul T)w direct id, the mitid .s^sVitit ind tint’ tO,m,ajbr came tKV- $.'■ &l
vumequert t rtplurt ,:,f ^Zandysinga He ,.utstan.img- h-ideHmr. in- Sailing to f rife 111 Ortubef, to#:, he mined the iOHth
dvirutahk- , cUiuagc. ami, skillial taateal kuuwfcdgr: fesHltciJ 10 l|(f- ‘ mm. Airiito „ termiiif in thv. Ar.toto Jtfe njrf.Vinatrd
fjiviM*f.n semriofi a firm tontbuld on .Mindanao Island;. 0A- many " V«tOBms m the. rtrgorne tie p«yiOPrted ;
Circa^ims withuiii re^rti r<> Ju' personal sately- he M, tnt forward t«> in tht- OftepMH.'C li,ld Hi *txlt i*pf45- L}'s (jtfcn
c-o,vaveJ in ln.-i.vy %i»tofe ; m ojdci tc «.oo . fim-iunii ir^ornn'' mvc, m vommtinrj Of vile KJtftit Ht* liarncd his !ic*ijio',;uu
iion nht **jt the lActi-.aj colonelcy'- , (femforaiy) on II September^ 19 IS. . He. - c:or»v'
He received the An Medal ' in 1945 tor numerous ftights * £ pHd Anillery to March Id! <> and t to
over Japanese poshrons md ltts 0.s.m K u.shed Sere.cc Medal. '«ved w.tn the- Motor l^rt Corps, until i-nu an ^ IV20,
iwxQ m 1945. was for Use Aitape-and WaWc- campaigns. ! vhctl : he ^
The Oak tof CJu.-ter to ti.se D.stincmslsed Service M«fcdW ^ n ?«: H * WUrl ^ '* h,i r t i' roa,scnf raftk at 1 ’
awarded ior .acrvicc on B«k. ' . A P"‘, m0 > a f -"“^i ° U . M .
General Gpe Was appointed permanent major geoeoil fti . *** retto^d the Uiiitrsl .t.tt^ and sened at fort Men-
s ; • - l A . 1 limit rJ.nSrtfi* tvifh rhv^ HAA Arfill^n' From jAJiiiarv
/IKajor Gefwrrv*! Harcc* H f&ifar.
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COMMANDERS OF THE SUNSET DIVISION
the tliranet, -.'he exceptional .abllitj* ' ibd ioand
arrive in _ t p|| ■■■■lippi ■■ .... .
judgment m bringing his division to a high sbh?! of t%nmcy in pn-
panpon for jungle .mTissfuli? -cordenAndcd bis diYtsiutj-
in. the- defense of the vCha Bay-Gona Area and ju operations agbnst
the enemy from- Gona to Morobe, While elements of his division jbu>-
tropated m the landing ;az Nassau Bay arid the subsequent drive on
Safemaua* latex ire led fete clrthion in the amphibious assaults against.
BoUandia and Biak Island: Element* of his drwion made the sue*
taessful irutiai landings at Aiupe and m the Wofcc? d$&n<TSamu Area.
Iff. uif attads he inflicad decisive dtieit on m oeperiented enemy.
Bis personal courage and inspiring leadership rna«it possible the able
execution of assigned missions, and contnbuted arterially to our
success*' in. .^iilodgirfg 'die; enemy -and feeing hirn Ip , relinquish his
conquests.
MAJ GEN, GEORGE A WHITE
Geof.ce A. White was horn in Illinois on 1H July 1880.
ftis first' military experience was as a private in fhe/.Iafoitfry..
in the Utah National Guard on i August 1S9> He ecuemd
the Federal servile fW duty in the Sparii^h-AnifiiifAn W$r •#;
a musician in the A rtiBety, serving until 21 December-
He reentered the Iftab State servlet bn 1 5 July i $99 Atui
served as private and ft cst sergeant in the '.trtfttotry; Until ;jk
May. 190 A. He moved to Oregon where he enlisted ns a private
in .thwr- OftgOfi;. Mi&lPtvai Guard on 4 August 1907, A(td the
.-5 A|^fev't907, he was appointed a tmfc liw
tenant ol lnl^ry in the Oregon National Guard,
Ht* promotion to aprain came on 21 March 191' i* to ma jor,
AG'D, on 14 May 4915, and to brigadier general oh 14 May
rcmsjelm 'this rank uoid2$ June 194(5. He was
mxtsuuxi into Federal service for the Border crisis ns a cap*
tain in ibe Cavalry, on 27 }qne • Ifei served until 22
February 1917 when he was demobilised and again became
brigadier geoeral, AGO.
■ ..-.■During' Wodd War The ws: mi&mzd into Federal sendee
on 10 September 1917 as a major, AGD v and was promoted
to lieutenant colonel Oh 13 November 1915k Following de-
fin'godisr General Harold Haney ' sr .
mobilization on 23 July 1 919. he was appointed; cokmel, AGO,
National Guard of Oregon, on 23 June i92f>> and was prev
mated to brigadier general on 8 June 192? and fo brigadier
general of the line oa 23 July 1923;
General White was graduated from the N&l&iiai Guard
Officers Cmts£ Command and General St^t! Sdsoob fw
Leavenworth-,, hi 192(3; and from the Mfljtaiy Melh;
•gccice Course of the Atmy War College*' Washington,- D. C <
in 1928. He was promoted to major groerai on 3 January
1930;
During World War II, Gehexal White/ was mustered into
the. Federal service on 16 Scptenife 1910- He became com
mandmg general of' the 41st Division • which was in training
•at Fact Lewis, Washington.; He; died dn 2 3 November 194 k
BRIG GEN, HAROLD HANEY
Harold Haney '’was born at Brazil , Indiana, on 2 January
1$9 4, Affer seniog as an enlisted man far three years, he
was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry in tlie
Regular Army on 9 August 1917, and was promoted to first
Ikutertont the same day.
Between August 1917 and Angus! 1919 he served with the
Dix, New Jersey. There he seped ay camp salvage officer
and a* cofnpaoy commander with the 1 6th Infantry , in Sep *
timber 1923 moving with that regiment to. Fact . Jayr N.Y.
Major General George A. White.
COMMANDERS OF THE SUNSET DIVISION
He- was- .signed to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, December 1914,. white attending Oregon Institute of Tech-
Georgiy in October 1924, where he completed the Company noibgy, from' wfo i<& he gbiduAtei *» .• 1JH A with the degree
Outers' Coarse in June 1925- He then went to Ohio State ‘of’ to ; served’ --om Federal
University, Caluxnbus, Ohio, as assistant pmfcssot of tndiitary duty with the National Guard as bugler apd. corporal on the
science and tactia After serving live years in that capacity, Mexican border, ' He was again mastered into Federal -service
he was assigned to the 6th Intantry at Jefferson Barracks, on 25 March 391 7 r fust prior. to the outbreak of World War I,
Missouri, where he became a company commander ami 'plans serving as a sergeant and regimental of la-
and training officer of the- id Battaiepn. In-- March 1933 he fautry from 2,5 March 1917 to 16 June 191$, when he was
joirred the 1 5th Infantry at Tknt^in, China. and remained ecmmbskined second lieutenant ?h the Adjutant General's
there until September 1935V meanwhile having been promoted Department.
to major on 1 August 1935, , Ffis brst commissioned service was on Federal doty with
He returned .to Fort. Jay and Was given, command of the 3d the National Guard in the United States anii with the Arnen-
BafuKom . Iftth Infantry, in July 1937 he became assistant am Expeditionary Forces in France. He wjc. awarded the
.pmljfe^r pf: military stien.ee aftd'taet-icsf afc -the Ub|^drl8fe of . Purple Heurr and was cited by the Oregon Legislature for
Alabama at Unhvr si ty Alabama, and the following, Septem- outstanding sendee.
her was enrolled as a' student at the • Command arid 'General He was' promoted to fust lieutenant oh 24 February '1.919*
Staff i^jhool, ftuf Leaven worUi, Knuyis. tjppn a'Onipl^tihh Jof; and to captain -'on ,3? .-May- He was mustered ' but of.'
his si t-dfe^' in June *939 he became .chairman and chief of DsJtrvd service on 25 September 1919 and was appointed
the Heavy' .Wbahom .Section, and latex, assistant executive captain on H June 1921. major on .17 November 1924, !i<*u-
officer xt Bte Infantry School. tenant colortd on If* March 192 \ and. brigadier general m
Mis ptomohoh to lieutenant colonel btanijc effective 9 9 January 1931.
August J 940 and. On 2H. December 19&t he wav promoted To Fbjfowirig 'his demphifeta^a after World War I he became
colouti ( temporariQ . In. -October 1,942' foe was assigned ■.!»;•■ Executive Officer- of the Oregon National Guard. Pnora 1934
thi- Southwest Fad& Ate" 1 'art#' mei - there; U5tiLNownd^ r --’ tcr 1 935 die- was .-Vice.'Ffc$£^iarjt of the -National 'Cfow/d ; Assoctffo
1943 %$ coaimmd^ni':d( ifot Officer C^ndidJde School, He tto{iydiudfr9rrf3935 lolMAhc was its Fr evident - 'In Fchru>
later issigned to -the 4 1 st Division and became A.ssistahT ary 1942 he was of assignment as commanding
Division Commander, receiving his promotion Cm brigadier general of the >$ 2d hvfaMry .Brigade and made Affiant com -
general pa j January 194 V ' man tier of the 41st Division.. In February 194? he was as-
On 6 March 1946 he reverted to hfo permanent rink of signed to Headquarter^ Services of Stipply, m the Southwest
cornel and Wa^ promoted to colonel {temporary}.. Pacific Arci, ana a month later was giyeh command of Base
u«rA rcvC ruAuic c c-vica Section 17. at Sydney; Australia In February 3 945 ht was
BKtG. GfcN 1 HC MAS h KiLfcA hospitalised at Barnes .C^eml Hospital, Vancouver Barracks,
Thomas £ /-ft Ilea was born in Ouatgo, Illinois, do 5 May Washington and in. July 1.945 was assigned, to the Infantry
l4£F*, He first eoter^, ; mitJCaA v service by enlisting in the Replacement Training Centex at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
National Guard of Oregon as .a private in the Infantry on 8
" ■ / BRIG. GEN, EDWIN A. ZUNPEL
4(^19, .be • s^rvrd' &* • commander b f
the 3U5th Field Artillery, and then returned to the United
States. While stationed in France he participated in engage-
menty ib the Meuse- Axgonnt and Defensive Set tcu.
His next assignment was at Camp Meade, M^ho4 y , #h*tt-
he served assistant carhp fndge advocate until NbVyrdber
I9l9i wljtn he moved to Sab Antonio, Tex^ tts . ussistant to
tl ie xfooe supply otffce r. From January to May 1920, h e wav
assistanf . to^ ^ the depot ^uarterrnasterr Son Antonio General
Brigodier General Thomas £. Rile o
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COMMANDERS Of TH E DIVISION
In June V$&2 he wa$s designated arolltry officer of XX
Chicago.. ttltnofi* and in February; 1943 was assigned
to Sixth Army as artillery officer m the Se«&yite&- Pacific,
He m-idt a permanent redone! on 14 October 1943 , -As
;ar!|Ui^ officer ot Sixth Army he participated m landings or,
'^^dfark and Xmwma Islands and in the landings at A tziut:
00 New Rwiui* and attodorf. Aitape
and'Holiandia. on Nc»\ Guinea, and the Admiralty Islands
Ox\ 74 May 1 944 he v/*s promoted to brigadier general
(ittnpGfary ) and assumed command of the 4 Hr Division
Artwiuy at HttUandia. In this, capacity he pa^kipated hi
op^rati tins ore Wakde Afttl Bioikf and i r> tiit: Ph ilipi^reic^
Hkvccompahffid die 41^ D.iyrsbin^ into Japan and returned
tiO'Jhc '.Uhittid States Jh Canary being aligned as Artil-
lery officer oi fourth Army. .
fit yivi -awarded the Legion of Men i as Sixih Army Art.il>
lery C#Tker; ; -- ffifoir, •fcxteptiortaUy m«:fito?i6us >anduet in the
fwformance of outstanding aery ices ffi the Soufimtvt Pacific
Hrea from 6 Februay 1 .945 to 4 May
An oak leaf duster to the Legion 0 ! Merit w.u> ■Warded co
him -x\ -list Division Art dim commander -for the Biak cam-,
p.iign liul for his part tn plarming and preparing the Pkhvv.m
md 2aritbmnga
m ,
■Itok HUml, on May l v >4b am! die* Riomee Sar Medal tor
merkortoas ^dtiev-cmenr m .mdtrary operation*. the
erremy on foam 10 Mmh 1945 fO 21 April W f p.
In July* 19^^* hie was awarded rht Air Medal for. numerous
opmtipoxil flights m Cuh pitMies over enemy-held territory
during the operation* on Bhk and Mindanao.
GaterAl Ziirtdd was appaftpted permanent brigadier general
'w )<H$ with rank, from 7 July l'-H4/
BRIG. GEM. RALPH WALDO COANE
Ralph W, Coane was bom in Oakland, California, on 1 7
foiQpdi&r General Sowih A. lundel
Supply Depot, and ihkrt sailed to Hawaii, where tve was named
;*$*r»tajrct to tb£ di*jpwii«ieht . quartermaster at Hradquartfiks;.
Hawaiian Department, fh Honolulu Meanwhile* he had re-
verted. to-eapuiri on $ M* y *929 but promoted to major
on 1 . July- that -.a me .yc->r. He jointd .*hs \ yh Meld Artillery
df •HaW'iii ffi.Oifbbfcf L920, 4 * a battalion
ami v^svil ia mis : until he returned, fo
*hc. United $U$ts m ]oly J*>25
.He verv^J at Hie United .'States Military
Academy until September !9J7,whtn byway assigned d
vfihierk at the Field Artillery &h9ol At FoA SUL Hi*wav
graduated m. June 1 92b. and ffei Wa.5 detailed to; jh$\fcM.TC
mand and General Steff $4?ool ar fbffi 1'caVehw.ortfi; j£Aij54te
He completed the rwtvpe*r‘ course in June r/to 7 after J$ikh
he proceeded i.o Providence, Rhixk IsUmE av %a itistmetor
gf dm Artjhery Brigade and 303U Field AailLfy .
RiiCHle fstiiid National Guard.
He v/as ordered to W^huigton, D. C . tor doty with ihc
^g>j|4tipns pi vision, fyjjriotid Guard Bun^u. in Scpi^nbef
i 9 5-L and in March p&iff/yfc* miide ^svstartt the chid q£
OpeotOonv jvid Orgaukaljon Division He was promoted to
iicuu riant < olontl prt l May hr Oitobcr ,hy fi>ok
i rob e:*.hf I voi - 1 >. 4 ihv Held Aetdkry bcb-X*! -UVd rbvi; -vh
lit fort. Ehagg, North 'Gi.rrdmif. cbmm^hder 4 ! : ;ffef 2 d
fulion., »5d Field A mil cry . He moved to Fori Bemoisg*
Georgia*- m comniaad of tjic ^3d Field Andlfry In July
and aUct served feOP^tnrWUy amlierp OflKtr of ibe. 4tU
Ihfaniiy Division.
He ’became <6rrimii0'dmg--' offiew of th^' 4.2?) J ? jdd, ArhlJen;
.total joa at Fbrtteihffigip CL'tofcer and one 4k'f
burned coinmapd id the ?st Artt^auk Group at Camp fclaV
borne, Loukiart^ ami wait ptomqHd fa\ ; c!dlo.nd ■ ^ f ietripofaiyy ;
On. 1 4 Oitober 194 1 ,. {olfowffig. D«ct*nibef M wi$ made
artillery officer of (T Corps at Wilmington, De id v/ are. later
movihg to jack^oiiivjlje, Florida, in the same capacity,
Brigadier General *olph >W Coon«
COMMANDERS OF THE SUNSET DIVISION
October i 89 1 ? Be enlisted on 5 January 1918 for d#$y at
the O/iiccfs' T raining School at Camp Kearny, California.
Me served a sergeant with the 143d Field Artillery at
Camp Kearny and sva.s commissioned -a second lieutenant or»
•28 May me.
He , honorably discharged on 18 J^rnury 1919, and
was appouxted a second lieutenant of Field ‘Artillery of the-
. Guard on' that .iatae datty: He was com*
tnif-sioned ..-.first lieutenant of Held Artillery, .Officers* Reset?
Corps, on I > .January l a 25; promoted to c
Ccirps, m 21 July 1950, to major on B June 1936,
iu volontl on ‘fy January 1941, and to brigadier general (fern
pofitry ) on 17 March 1942,
General Gomes rust assign menC4iter feeing cmniriissioned
. •>>;£' •:*• *r i* ■Z&'&'m'L. V ’.a *jL ii ir-i;i * t. . ft . »
j?i$ , ,.., ... , .
October C9r#V when. lie Was transferred lo the 143d Field
Arnllc ry , thj?rr star i drtbd
attended tho Artillery School of Fire there
As a, Reserve officer he
peaods tjf remixing. He was ordered to
at Sahta Barbara, California, on $ February 1941.
assigned to duty with die 144th Field •ArtHls!'.Fy\-^t/FW s Xt?W'iv, ■
Washington. Mg was .assigned ./4*\att.{llery - .il>r
''Infantry Diyisidn* Fort Lewi's.' m March 19X2. md tlte-fpllow-
ing roahtb accompanied die Division oversea*. A* a re$bk qf
wounds received to action, he wa$ reiutncd ttf this IhliVed,
State*, in July 1 94 4 and , following hosphah?at(on HoR
Gen ml HospiMj alSnJiW Barbara, Cdiftwtiu, he wdyassig ned
in Novembbt 1943 to gomn#t«d the 14th Headquarters mtd
Htaiiejuartei's* Detachment. Special Troops,'. Fourth Army, aX
^ 3 ^ Fp.lk v ifeui^faij^. ' 9 ; : '; 7 -
BRIG. GEN. ALBERT H BHKBB
Albert H. Beebe. Washington National Guard, entered the.
military service .of flic State of Washington as an enlisted
mart on 17 July 1907 in C^mp^nycL, 2d WasRmghxii Infantry,
where he remains d dp’td d 8 October 1909 . He ms then
f^nyfatred to the Cp&\ . Attiifery Corps, where he served as
i sergeant ami sergeant- m^9r until 2 A May 19107 On 3.0
July t9l7 heenlhled in Comp^yTh 3d Infantry. W«b?Vgtbn
State Guard, and on 13 August. \,9L? he wai comrUissiont'd
a captain in .the in fantry^ Washington 'State - . Guard. ind as-
sign ed to the Ad Intantry Regiioeiit. On ^ janu^ry. 4919 he
w? prapjoted f omoj or. On 10 Jopu^ty 19T1 he was pree:
:aptain, Officers' xnoted to liegtEfiinh colonel in the Field Artillery and was
.Essighed as eus&iiy& of&co of the 146th Field ' ArOitery . On
'30 March 1 929 he rtxA command of that, .regiment and on
3 Wy ' 1929 he wa> pr^itjoted rb cOlbhel. He contiadcd itf
,. r . w ^ v „ v , ., .... . .. ,. , ce'mrehtud of The T46ih aottT. he was promoted tA brigadier
Wa3' with- ffe lt5th Afruflumtiait which: he: went , general and to .command ; the A§*h- Field Artillery "
unit’ imt-rF Bfigade.;on;- 40' ;• •
Geumf Beebe entered r Fe>kral service on \<% Stpftjnber
at Camp dc Souge, France. • He 19 i0 m 4 i/mmand oi the Ooth Field ArhHery Brigade buf v l>
rileased from Feder.d Msrv'jc'c on 23. SeplomK* becai»>i- *>i
#«^;etdHd to active duty for short •phy'ucd. d«Gh»lity. On 2H August 19 1 1. hr. was appointc-d
extended active duty fhe.rHwed .l^bictf the ^^shingt6h7^ a 93) n *ji
•and . was G'uatd. .■.•••.•..■•■•■••■ -v ‘ '
Me was born afc New York, on 24 February
and graduated frqm ir’omell University itt 1 90 1 with the
degree of Bachelor of jWjyv,* '
MAJ, GEN, CARLOS A. PENINGiON
Carlos A, Penirigion w : lv';'bdrn - {ff, .Wjlmiiigilbn, Illinois,
on 3 May 187B. He tn listed in Comjx4ny D, 1 st Washington.
Volunteers ai Seattle, Washington, oni 30 March 1B98 and
served w'ilh that urtit in. thc' Phlhppxot' Ulands during the
Spanish American Was umil lie v^as. anustered out on l
November 1 899. He reen listed in Company A. 2d Washing-
ton Irtfantr)', on 27 April 19097 and reipameil is xan enlisted
man with that unit uiitil coromh^oned *i first licuftram in
the same company on 9 June Oh jj!R October 7999. he
Cdftvi A- Ptfifim gton
Briyodier Central Albert H H'fwb*.
i or Gen oral
3
CL
196
COMMANDERS OF THE SUNSET DIVISION
was transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps, and assigned to
the regimental staff of the CAC, Washington National Guard.
In September 1914 he was promoted to captain and was made
a major on 9 May 1916 when he was assigned as Coast Artil-
lery Battalion commander and as State Inspector. From 15
June 1916 to 16 November 1916, he was on active duty at
Tacoma, Washington, in charge of recruiting. On 17 Novem-
ber 1916 he was transferred to the Inspector General’s De-
partment, and assigned as State Inspector and on 9 June
1917 he was transferred to the Quartermaster Corps and
assigned as State Quartermaster.
On 2 August 1917 he entered Federal service as Assistant
Division Quartermaster, 4 1st Division, going overseas with
the Division in December 1917. In France he served as
Quartermaster of the 77th Division. He was promoted to
lieutenant colonel on 10 November 1918 and was relieved
from active Federal service on 6 August 1919.
On 23 February 1920 he was commissioned a lieutenant
colonel, QMC, in the Organized Reserves, and was assigned
as Quartermaster, 62d Cavalry Division. On 17 May 1929
he transferred to the Washington National Guard and was
assigned as Quartermaster of the 4 1st Division. He was pro-
moted to colonel in the Field Artillery of the WNG on 10
April 1930 and assumed command of the 148th Field Artil-
lery with headquarters in Tacoma. His promotion to brigadier
general was effective 24 July 1934 and he was assigned as
commander of the 81st Infantry Brigade of the 4lst Division.
He entered Federal service in this capacity on 16 September
1940 but because of physical disability incurred in line of
duty he retired on 16 December 1941. On 28 August 1942
he was made major general on the retired list of the Wash-
ington National Guard.
After World War I, General Penington took an active
part in the organization of the U. S. Veterans Bureau in
Washington, D. C., and as an assistant director organized
and operated the Insurance Division of the Bureau for a
number of years. Later he was business manager of the
Veterans’ Hospital at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, and at
American Lake, Washington.
He died at Madigan General Hospital on 26 August 1947.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
5VV**t|
SS Sunset Launching
In tribute to the fighting men of the Pacific ' general mwugje-v of the shipyard, were the mothers of three
f diritd 4 1st Infantry Division a tanker, the USS $wiu-? t was heroes of the 4lst Division who lost thoir lives in action,
launched' on 20 January 1945 at the Ka/ser Swan IVi,md ship*.' Tec h. Sgt Theodore Richter, Sgt. George Rv. Jennings, and
|$ta| in Ro/tUrtv}, Oregon, Gen. Ralph F. CowgdVcoqi- Lr Irving Hoyt.
manding general of the Oregon Shite'. C »a*rd ahi aTonrier . Speaking with a fervor which rejected bis- hive and adroira*
riL was the' speaker- lion for the Division with wbidrhe served. soiong^ General
at (her ijjedle-'HtoO which one Lrawds Cowgirl; lejated an imposing h^t of t^pIor^aC the former
ever to witness ;i Hunching at the Swan bland yards. Pacific. Northwest National Guardsinen and' enumerated ' ' the
tw State G^qrtl XompWik^ v$tatem frau? many ' first'’ honor# .they, had gained it* training, m their
tliej if ' -4 tli' r Bdit uaiie r 0'i; arrival -in- Australia when all -the- Southwest Padhc shrank
Opt. Joseph |L Bt^irtan/ air4 the State Guard band gayo an Lorn duf iKlvance of the Japanese Army and Navy r ahd ifeeir
impressive mdjury note and also present were many vetera rn victorious campaign? against the Nipponese tihongh P^pua*
who' had just returned from nearly three years' service hi the New Gttin&a, and Dutch New Guinea.
Southwell Pacific with the Sunset Division. These men were
home on furlough, leave, rotation, and some were home hr PROGRAM
suy-htt4u.se. of wounJi;«n4;w/ed m 'battle ' LAUNCHING OF THE SS SUBSET
Sponsor ot the tanktT Was Mrs. George A. White.
widow of Maj: Gen. George A. White, whose ability and U <30. Band and State Guard- troops march down Crane
vision ^ commanding general of the dt^t Division are re* \V.*y No d >ia?nng from the .Assembly - buibJmg..
fleeted in the; great honors wiuch. ' ;wf «••' gaifi^d «*' the South* i I>S3^- ^hrf;i»riaTrddps* 6
west Pad tic. With Mrs W hue on the dedication platform. at which .time Mr; A K. Nitimn .opens the cert monies,
in addition to General C.owgjD and A. R, Ni, entail; assistant .K&t/teri The Oregon State Guard band, .wilt play "The
198
SS Sunset LAUNCHING
National Anthem” as the Swan Island Color Guard raises the
American Flag.
11:34. Nieman: The yard whistle now sounds as a warning
to all craft in the river that our hull No. 123, the SS Sunset,
is about to be launched.
11:3414. ( Warning whistle sounds.)
11:34 1 / 2 . Nieman: Mrs. White, . . guests, . . men and
women of Swan Island:
It is customary at this point in the launching ceremony to
name the person, place, or department that is being honored.
Today I feel that Swan Island and we employees of this ship-
yard are being most deeply honored to have the privilege of
naming this ship the Sunset for the 4 1st Division of the
United States Army. We are honored to have Mrs. George
A. White, whose husband was the “father” of the Sunset
Division, as sponsor, and three of the Division’s Gold Star
mothers as her attendants. We are honored to have members
of the Sunset Division and other branches of the armed
services with us today. The nucleus of the Sunset’s fighting
men have come from the Northwest, from Oregon, Wash-
ington, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. They are our neigh-
bors, our sons, brothers, and husbands and our daughters.
The first Sunset Division in World War I made history
in military annals and through three years of active service in
the Pacific in this war, the sons of the old 4lst Division have
built their own fame and tradition that have carried the name
of "Sunset” to even greater heights.
The Sunset Division left Fort Lewis in March, 1942, and
were the first American combat troops in Australia. It soon
became famous for its part in the fighting at Guadalcanal and
New Guinea, at Salamaua, Biak Island, and in other cam-
paigns. They have earned the reputation of being our best
jungle troops. In the original division, Oregon furnished two
regiments of infantry, including the l62d, the famed Oregon
Second. Two battalions of artillery also came from Oregon.
Other artillery came from Washington, one regiment of in-
fantry from Montana, and engineers from Idaho. In closing,
I should like to speak directly to those members of the 4 1st
Division who are with us today. I should like to tell you
that we are immensely proud of you and of the families who
have given you to the service. Many of your folks work in
this yard and are part of this organization. We on the pro-
duction front realize that the difficulties we encounter are
minor in comparison with the hell of warfare that many of
you have been through. But our pulses have been quickened
in pride of your victories. Our hearts have grieved with your
losses.
We are humbly honored to launch this ship in your name.
At this time, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I
introduce to you a former regimental commander of the 4 1st
Division, and a very close associate of the late General George
A. White. At the present time, he is now commander of the
Oregon State Guard. I am happy to introduce Brigadier
General Ralph P. Cowgill. . . General Cowgill.
(Text of General Cowgill’ s talk will be found in the next
column.)
11:39. Nieman: The Oregon State Guard band will now
favor us with their selection entitled "Bombasto.”
11:41. Nieman: Mrs. C. E. Hoyt will now present flowers
to the sponsor, Mrs. George A. White . . . and to the matrons
of honor, Mrs. T. J. Richter . . . and Mrs. J. C. Jennings.
11:44. Nieman : The Reverend John W. Beard of the Mt.
Tabor Presbyterian Church will now invoke the blessing of
God upon the SS Sunset.
11:4414. ( Invocation .)
11:45. Nieman: I will now turn the microphone over to
Don Frederickson who will describe for you the burning of
the plates, and bring to you our sponsor’s christening words.
11:49. (Vessel is launched as the Oregon State Guard
band plays " Anchors Aweigh.”)
Speech by General Cowgill at Launching of the
SS Sunset
We are assembled here today to pay an honor to a great
National Army division composed of personnel from the
Northwest States — Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and
Wyoming — and more particularly represented in Oregon by
the l62d and 186th Infantry Regiments and the 2 1 8th Field
Artillery.
It is fitting that at this time respect be paid to the late
Maj. Gen. George A. White who commanded that Division
until November 1941.
When the 4 1st Division was called in 1940, he immedi-
ately instituted a rigorous training program that fitted the
Division to later make world history.
He instilled in the minds of officers and enlisted men the
necessity of the toughest training in order to meet any Japanese
attack.
A few days before General White passed away, he remarked
that he expected the Japanese to attack without warning any
day, and he was worried that he could not make others sec
that the attack was coming.
Two weeks later the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred.
Suddenly this Nation woke up, late, very late, but not too
late, to save a majority of the people of the world from
butchery and slavery by two depraved nations.
General White will go down in history as an outstanding
soldier and citizen . . . worshipped by his men.
It was his ambition that the 4 1st or Sunset Division would
be recognized as second to none in an Army representing the
United States. How well General White planned is best told
by citing the Division’s accomplishments.
(1) At the conclusion of the 1940-41 field maneuvers at
Fort Lewis, General McNair indicated that the 4 1st Division
was the No. 1 National Guard Division and one of the three
top-ranking divisions in the United States.
(2) First division to go overseas.
(3) Has served longer overseas than any other division.
(4) First division to be trained for jungle warfare.
(5) Has fought more campaigns than any other division.
(6) Has killed more Japs than any other division.
(7) Has captured more Jap prisoners than any other divi-
sion (2,200).
(8) Awarded Presidential Citation for outstanding per-
formances.
(9) Leads South Pacific outfits in number of individual
decorations.
(10) It is estimated that more than sixty per cent of the
Division has been awarded the infantry badge.
(11) The Division made an unequalled record in this war
by driving across New Guinea to Salamaua — seventy-six days
in actual combat. It is related that for one period of twenty-
six straight days our troops existed solely on limited canned
C rations.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
' THE FRONT LINES”
199
The Division has taken part in the following campaigns:
( 1 ) Buna-Gona and Sanananda campaigns in Papua.
(2) Nassau Bay, Tambu Bay, Roosevelt Ridge and Sala-
maua in New Guinea.
(3) Aitape, Wakde, Hollandia and Biak island in Dutch
New Guinea.
Here among you today are a number of officers and enlisted
men who did their part to help make the Division record.
You can identify these men by the Sunset insignia they so
proudly wear. Some are wounded, some are on rotation and
some are returning to the Division for further conquests.
I particularly call your attention to the enlisted personnel —
they are the hope of America.
I pay tribute today to Mrs. George A. White, the sponsor
of this ship. To her goes my best wishes on this memorable
day.
To the three Gold Star Mothers here serving as attendants
and to the many others in Oregon, I can only offer this: That
each and all of them face the future with brave hearts and a
feeling that their loss has helped prevent the occupation of
our own land by our brutal enemies.
Had we properly maintained a strong combined Army and
Navy it is almost certain that this war would never have
occurred; therefore, we have no one but ourselves to blame
for this war — the loss of our fathers and sons, and our wealth.
Now after more than three years, our Army and Navy is on
the march. For three long years our soldiers and citizens in
the Philippines have been lifting their chained hands toward
heaven praying to the Almighty God for deliverance from
brutality and death. Let us pray that we are not too late.
This ship is one link in a vast chain of ships spanning a
long, deep, treacherous ocean.
If that chain is broken, our men on the far-flung battle
fronts will be deprived of arms, equipment and food that they
so seriously need.
The men on the front lines do not have time to worry
about conditions at home — they want all of the necessary
supplies in order that they may win the war and return home
to their loved ones and their jobs.
To you men and women of the Swan Island Shipyard: For
the officers and men of the Sunset Division overseas and
those present here today, I take this occasion to publicly com-
mend you and your loyal and patriotic workers for the speedy
and efficient construction of the ships so necessary for the
prosecution of this war.
I wish to commend those officers and men working in this
organization who have volunteered their services to the Ore-
gon State Guard.
Many of these officers and men for the past three years
have attended drills and maneuvers regularly — some coming
directly from night shifts to report for field training on Sun-
days — that they might be better prepared to meet possible
emergencies.
This exemplifies the highest types of citizenship.
It is my hope that all of our armed forces, wherever they
may be, will be informed of this launching honoring the
fighting men of the United States Army which is another
indication that they have the complete and untiring support
of your organization.
I am sure that all members of the famous Sunset Division
will welcome all of you as honorary members of the Sunset
Division Association of Oregon. 1
'From On Guard!, published monthly for the Oregon State Guard.
‘The Front Lines”
The Front Lines, daily publication of the 4 1st Infantry
Division, ran the gamut of some of history's biggest head-
lines from the time of its debut in New Guinea on 15 May
1944, as a weekly news sheet of one hundred mimeographed
copies to its peak publication of some three thousand copies
at Zamboanga, Mindanao, where word of Japan’s uncondi-
tional surrender was carried to thousands of Sunset men and
attached troops in an eight-page special edition, dated Wed-
nesday, 15 August 1945.
Another highlight of the paper’s history was the record
sixteen-page edition published when Germany surrendered to
the Western Allies and Russia on Tuesday, 8 May 1945. All
but two of these pages were prepared in advance, in true
newspaper tradition, and carried in crates from Biak to Min-
doro and finally to Zamboanga, where the ”lid” literally was
knocked off one of the biggest stories of all time.
All of the romance of the newspaper game went into the
VE edition. A week prior to Germany’s actual surrender,
when the Nazis’ collapse was inevitable, the Front Lines staff
opened the crates which contained the pages numbered from 3
to 16 and aided by volunteers, headed by Bill Ostermann, from
the Division’s AG Office, worked long overtime hours putting
the pages in proper sequence. Then came the newspaper
game’s ’’death watch,” or sweating out the actual announce-
ment that hostilities had ended in Europe.
To George Gregas, Pennsylvanian of G-4, went the honor
of bringing the flash to The Front Lines. George overheard
a telephone conversation in his office and dashed into Fort
Pilar, where the headquarters group bunked, and aroused
Edward H. Gerken, editor, and quondam reporter for The
New York Sun, at about 11:30 p.m.
"Hey, Pop,” he yelled. "Germany has surrendered!”
And took off as a pony rider to spread the word verbally.
The Front Lines, which always had a small compact staff
on regular duty, though often aided by piece work from
volunteers with printer’s ink in their blood, capitalized on
preparing all Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and any other
special editions long in advance, having the headlines and art
work ready to roll at a moment’s notice. But even The Front
Lines was caught short on the Japanese surrender story, since
the collapse of Japan only ninety-odd days after VE-day was
unexpected. However, as soon as the various peace offers
began to break into the news, the staff again went into action,
and succeeded in bringing out an eight-page special, though
original plans had called for an edition surpassing in volume
even that published on VE-day.
The integrity of The Front Lines was attested to in the
various phone calls from troops seeking to verify rumors. One
soldier even said, "If The Front Lines says it’s so, I'll believe
it!” In the course of the hectic week preceding actual an-
nouncement of the unconditional surrender by President Tru-
man, the edition was prepared "for bed,” with artist Edward
Holland preparing an appropriate cartoon, and a "cut” of Mr.
Truman. And the night before the actual announcement, mem-
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WHAT OTHERS SAID
201
bers of the staff each took two hours of the "death watch"
monitoring the radio, but the news did not break until shortly
after 8:00 a.m. when a one-sentence announcement was cut
into a routine broadcast of the news.
The Victory Special of The Front Lines made such a hit
that a Marine Air Group unit asked for the paper’s stencils
so that it could run off additional copies for its own troops.
The 4 1st ran off two thousand copies of this edition, and the
Special Service outfit on the island ran off an additional one
thousand. Furthermore, the demand for copies, which con-
tained an account of the 4 1st Division by Major Roy Sherry,
and a portrait of Gen. Jens A. Doe by Lou Wendell of G-3,
was so great that a second printing had to be run off.
The Front Lines also had the signal honor of a commenda-
tion from the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On Biak
in November 1944, the paper once again prepared an extra.
Mr. Roosevelt was making his bid for a fourth term. Three
columns were prepared, with two columns of back-ground
material already stenciled in, and with the right-hand column
open for the spot news of the election results. Most of the
credit for this edition went to Bob Gillis of the Division’s
AG Office, who did all of the art work for this run, just as he
had done much of the work for other editions. The paper
"hit the streets’’ of Biak close on the heels of the actual radio
broadcast. A copy of the edition came to the attention of the
White House, and the following letter of commendation was
sent to the 41 st Division by Stephen Early, Presidential Press
Secretary :
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
December 18, 1944
Dear Sergeant Scharper:
Many thanks for sending me the special edition of FRONT LINES.
Your letter was so interesting that I showed it to the President, who
was greatly impressed with the remarkable job which was done under
such difficult and hazardous circumstances.
The President asked me to send his congratulations to Private Ger-
ken and the other men responsible for this achievement. More power
to the 4lst!
Very sincerely yours,
STEPHEN EARLY
Secretary to the President
First Sergeant W. A. Scharper,
Hd., 41st Infantry Division,
APO 41
Paradoxically, The Front Lines began its career in the rear
echelon. After the 4 1st had hit Hollandia, Capt. Franklin
Tourtellotte, then Division Special Service Officer, returned
to Finschhafen and suggested that a news sheet be inaugu-
rated for the boys in the rear. Dick Pekar was publishing
one up forward. To Captain Tourtellotte (later Major) also
goes the credit for the paper’s name, which caught the fancy
of the troops. Ed Gerken was made editor of The Front Lines ,
and was assisted by LaVern Hamlin of Marshalltown, Iowa.
Near the end of the Division’s stay on Biak, publication of
the paper was transferred from Special Service to the newly
created I&E (Information and Education) Section, under Ma-
jor Sherry. The TO called for three enlisted men, and Steve
Mekuly of Chicago injected some "fresh blood” into the sheet.
During its month’s stay on Mindoro, the paper was reor-
ganized with its larger staff and began to even up the right-
nand margins to give the paper the semblance of a printed
sheet. And in this respect, it was Mekuly’s painstaking care
in what amounted to setting the type by hand which made
the difference in physical appearance of the newspaper. The
even margins, which required additional time and effort, since
the copy first had to be typed out within the required number
of "units” were maintained through Mindoro and Zamboanga,
but were given up when The Front Lines hit Japan in favor
of greater output of the news on such important subjects as
redeployment, reconversion and other stateside highlights.
When the paper came under the jurisdiction of I&E, it had
the advantage of being able to call on. the section's draftsmen
and artists, and to Seymour Fleischman and Jim Forsberg go
the credit for many of the swell-looking headlines which
adorned the front pages.
At Hiro, Japan, Paul Bluemle of Springfield, Ohio, formerly
with the Daily News of that town, contributed his special
talents as a reporter and rewrite man, and was elevated to the
post of Associate Editor. On 13 December 1945, Paul became
editor of The Front Lines, under the supervision of the new
I&E Officer, Lt. Hugo R. Wichtel.
Throughout the career of the paper, the sports news was
excellently handled by Fred Down of the Division’s Special
Service Section, who gave freely of his off-duty hours to keep
the troops abreast of news and results in baseball, football,
basketball, boxing, and so on. Among others who contributed
toward making the news sheet a success were Lou Friedman,
Larry King, Jim Barham, Henry N. Heine, Capt. Chester Kal-
wasinski, Aldo J. DeBenedetti and Peter Frank, who is best
remembered as the paper’s "European Consultant” in the "hot”
days of the war in Europe.
What Others Said
War in New Guinea
From (t Yank Down Under”
Singapore, Java, Sumatra had fallen. Then Rabaul. For
Australia, 1942 broke to a bloody dawn. The vaunted um-
brella of islands had folded up, the outside ring of protection
had gone — except for Port Moresby, arid, half -garrisoned,
half -prepared. March, and the Japanese hands, ever reaching
forward, fell on Lae and Salamaua, just "over the mountains.”
Thumbs scoured out new airfields, transports brought in
troops, supplies. Enemy aircraft filled the skies over Moresby,
day after day, night after night. But the Japanese halted,
secure in their thoughts that "tomorrow would do.” But the
tomorrows were stirring with new life, with iron in their blood
and steel in their hearts. In a time when hope fluttered vainly,
miracles happened. The miracles were small groups of men
in fighter planes who stemmed the forward rush of the Nip-
ponese airmen. The planes were made in the factories of
America and Australia. They fell from hands covered with oil
and grease.
The world looked at New Guinea. Strategists drew lines
from Port Moresby to the mainland. "If it fell . . . this will
happen — the bombing of Australian cities, women, children,
industries ...”
But it did not happen. That is the story of the men of New
Guinea. The Jap came and was halted. He was pushed back.
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
202
WHAT OTHERS SAID
He left in the mud and slush his best fighting men. Port
Moresby did not fall. Instead of a defensive post, a stooge
to take the blows from a champion fighter, it became a fight-
ing base. From it, giant planes streaked towards the Japanese.
From it, lean men with confidence in their hearts and courage
in their eyes, went across the hell of the Owen Stanley Range.
They met the Jap — the confident, plump, egotistical brown
man — and they beat him.
The story of the shocking conditions, the incredible hard-
ships and the sheer guts shown by our men cannot be com-
pletely told in photographs nor can it be described adequately
in writing. It can be better understood perhaps when all
realise that the fight for Papua is now recognised as one of
the toughest campaigns in all military history.
To combat the Japanese, soldiers climbed slippery, precipi-
tous mountain tracks on hands and knees — forced their way
through dense jungle — waded knee-deep in mud — desperately
weary, tried to sleep on sodden ground under constant tropi-
cal downpour.
At one stage those in contact with the enemy lit no fires,
had no warm food, nor took off a single piece of clothing for
four weeks. When finally able to have a spell their socks, and
in some cases their boots, had to be cut from their feet — water-
sodden skin was torn away with socks — feet left raw.
Many wounded men walked for days for medical aid; those
who couldn’t walk were carried on rough bush stretchers by
native Fuzzie Wuzzies. Sometimes it took ten natives to carry
one wounded soldier over this terrible country.
Complete lack of roads was the most difficult problem in
the campaign; without roads it appeared impossible to supply
our troops. This great problem was finally overcome by em-
ploying several thousand natives as carriers; and with huge
transport planes dropping supplies from the air.
North of the Owen Stanleys the Japs were in considerable
forces. Coolies had been brought to carry their supplies across
the roadless country.
Following weeks of dreadful fighting the Japs were pushed
back over the Owen Stanleys — Moresby was saved — Kokoda
Airfield recaptured. Our supply problem was simplified. Big
planes were now able to land on the northern side of the
ranges with stores which could not be safely dropped from the
air. Wounded men were flown out and within a few hours
were getting attention in Moresby’s hospitals. Many lives
were saved and the frightful trip back over the Owen Stanley
Track was a thing of the past.
As it was impossible to march sufficient troops over the
ranges to drive the Japs from Papua, other means of trans-
port were investigated. The ranges were thoroughly explored
for routes by which roads could be rapidly built — but without
success. The plan to march troops up the coast from Milne
Bay was impracticable because of the impassable swamp coun-
try. The plan of transporting troops by plane to the North
Coast was, at first, reckoned limited, as the landing fields were
soft with incessant rain and heavy aircraft bog easily, but fol-
lowing a successful experimental flight the High Command
decided to fly reinforcement troops over the ranges and land
them to the south of Buna on the north coast of Papua. These
troops were mainly Americans.
About the same time, the Australians fighting on the Koko-
da Trail won a complete victory over the Japs at Gorari, a vil-
lage about 30 miles from the north coast. Brillant strategy and
brave men annihilated practically the whole of the enemy
force. More than one thousand Japs were killed. The few
lucky enough to escape the Gorari trap fled to the coast, join-
ing up with the Jap garrisons who waited there within strongly
constructed, w'ell-hidden defences. However, against these
coastal forces at Gona, Buna and Sanananda the Allies now
attacked.
The campaign over the ranges had been tough, but here on
the coast were extra hardships. Men fought by day in steamy,
reeking swamps, beneath a burning equatorial sun and lay
at night, soaked to the skin by the regular tropical downpour,
often hungry and always weary, with death lurking behind
every leaf and log. The Jap, with the cunning of an animal,
had burrowed into the earth and camouflaged his whereabouts
with jungle.
Malaria and typhus fever broke out amongst the troops.
Strong men who had fought so valiantly across the ranges
crumbled as these dread diseases took their toll — it was heart-
breaking when victory was so close — some fought on — ill with
fever. One, a company commander with his temperature at
105 degrees, led his men in counterattack against the enemy —
when the Japs were beaten back he collapsed with a tempera-
ture of 106.6.
Despite all difficulties our forces closed relentlessly in, and
the Japs who would not surrender were killed.
The doomed Jap garrisons of Papua had waited in vain for
the reinforcements their Emperor had promised — but these
never arrived — the Allied Air Force had seen to that, as they
sank ship after ship.
With the dawn of 1943, Sanananda, last of the Jap gar-
risons, fell. The Japanese had been driven from Papua and
the first stage of the Allied offensive against the Japanese
marauders successfully completed.
Medics Under Fire
By Sgt. Charles Pearson, "Yank” Staff Correspondent
Dutch New Guinea — A portable surgical hospital is a medi-
cal unit of four doctors and generally 32 enlisted men. They’re
supposed to work directly behind the line of battle and patch
up casualties so they can be removed to an evacuation hospital.
Sometimes part of the portable hospital’s personnel have to
be removed too.
During one of the Dutch New Guinea campaigns a portable
unit was brought up by buffaloes to a position behind the ad-
vancing infantry of the 4 1st Division. They were moving up a
coastal road from the landing beach toward Jap-held airstrips.
The road was on a narrow strip of land with the sea on one
side and a steep, heavily wooded coral terrace on the other.
The portable hospital medics arrived in late morning and
set up their tents in a coconut grove. The infantry up ahead
was moving along without much resistance. The hospital per-
sonnel were getting the idea they might have an easy show
ahead. The coconut grove was picturesque. Just off the shore
was a reef. A lot of men were out on it looking for cat eye
shells. It was all quiet and peaceful.
In the distance could be heard the occasional chatter of
machine guns and the popping of small arms. It was a com-
forting sound. They were our guns.
Suddenly they noticed the fire was rapidly intensifying. The
thump of heavy mortars was almost blotting out the sound
of the machine guns. The operator at the field phone called
out that they had run into a strong force and were being
heavily pounded with 90mm mortars. The first casualties were
already on their way back.
Shortly a captured Japanese truck sputtered into the hospi-
tal area with six wounded on it. All of them were badly torn
up. Capts. Edward L. Waisbrot of Canton, Ohio, and Theo-
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203
dore Moss of Kew Gardens, L. I., were quickly working on a
man whose arms had been smashed to jelly. It was an amputa-
tion.
At the other table set up in the pyramidal tent which was
serving as an operating theater, Capts. Bernard Sollord of
Baltimore, Md., and Sydney Kahn of Chicago were amputa-
ting the leg of a soldier. It had been badly fractured and the
main blood vessel hopelessly torn.
The six casualties had now multiplied to twenty, and they
were still streaming in. T/4 Cecil Wells of Hockersville,
Okla., a former boxer and carnival pitchman now wardmaster,
was going from one soldier to another trying to ease his pain
while patients were coming in faster than they could be
treated.
A call was sent back for more doctors. Three came up later
in a jeep. Lieutenant Burroughs from Oakland, Calif., came
from the evacuation hospital. Captain Krupke of Chicago was
from another portable unit and Captain Ludden came from a
clearing company. Another table was set up in the already
crowded tent. Three teams of doctors continued work steadily.
Up ahead the infantry was stopped. Jap artillery and a
naval gun were ranging in on them. Down between the hospi-
tal and the beachhead a second Jap force was driving a wedge
between the fighting battalion and the rest of the force. It was
now dark. The doctors were working by the illumination
from one Japanese headlight powered by a storage battery,
several Coleman lamps and all the available flashlights in the
camp. It was hot in the tent and the surgeons were stripped
to their underpants.
The casualties continued to come in, now from both direc-
tions. The patched up ones were being evacuated by landing
craft and buffaloes. The force ahead was slowly giving ground.
The battle was coming closer. An occasional mortar shell
landed in the area. The supply tent and extra equipment had
already been blasted into ribbons. One hospital attendant had
been hit by a shell fragment.
Down in the kitchen tent Sgt. John Millner of Washington,
D. C., T/5 Arlen Bradstreet of Stockton Springs, Maine, and
T/5 Lucien Nadeau of Matawaska, Maine, were brewing hot
coffee and bringing it in to the operating theater. Operating
room assistants Pfc. William Abbott of Sommerville, Mass.,
Sgt. Emerson Heim of Tonawanda, N. Y., T /5 Richard Lucier
of North Adams, Mass., and T/5 Sydney Shub of Ithaca,
N. Y., were giving plasma and morphine and setting the
wounded onto litters in slit trenches. Knee mortar shells were
coming down from the ridge and exploding around the ward
tent.
In the pitch black of the night it had not been possible to
bring some of the wounded from the lines of fire. They had
to wait until daybreak.
At 0500 the next morning all the wounded had been cared
for. The doctors knocked off for a bit of sleep. An hour
later in the early light of dawn the casualties began again.
At 1030 a message came up from the beachhead to be ready
to move out at a moment’s notice, but to continue working as
well as possible. Dr. Moss was working on a man whose head
had been split open and whose brain was injured. He was
hemorrhaging badly. A patient on another table had had his
arm blown off at the shoulder. The fighting was getting
closer. Wounded men were walking back from the lines and
collapsing at the hospital.
The battalion was withdrawing, trying to consolidate its
position. The Japs had cut the supply line and were moving
up the beach from both directions. Cpl. Ted Hunter of Mac-
wahoc, Maine, and T/5 Leroy Fulkerson of Columbus, Ohio,
climbed up a bamboo ladder against the coral terrace and
brought down a soldier with a hip wound. Infiltrating Japs
were working down through the wooded terrace behind the
hospital, setting up knee mortars and trying to hit wounded
going out in the buffaloes. Pfc. Leonard Solow of New York
City had the job of getting them away from the jetty.
One Jap reached the ledge directly above the ward tent. An
infantryman shot him. He fell into a slit trench behind the
kitchen tent.
At noon the last American vehicle came through. The
fighting was now right in the area. At 1300 hours the hos-
pital started to evacuate, but at 1400 those men whose lives
depended on immediate attention were still being worked over.
An hour later the last of the doctors climbed into the buffa-
loes and traveled back to the evacuation hospital with the
wounded. Half an hour later the Japs were swarming over the
area.
Back at the evac hospital the portable surgical unit doctors
continued working. Two days later they were again sent up
to the area of the hectic twenty-four hours. This time the Japs
were in headlong flight, being pursued by the reorganized
battalion supported by tanks. This time the portable surgical
unit could patch up the wounded without ducking for cover
every few minutes.
As one tired medic put it, "If I was in the infantry I might
be getting that extra ten bucks fighting pay they talk about.
But then, they say medics never see combat."
Sunset Division Eclipses The Rising Sun
By Sgt. Dave Richardson, "Yank” Staff Correspondent
New Guinea (By Radio ) — Of all the gorgeous sunsets
American fighting men have witnessed from this tropical
battleground, most vivid was the one that lit up the sky the
evening Yanks and Aussies smashed through to capture Sana-
nanda Point.
It seemed a fitting climax to the fierce battles in which
units of the 4 1st Division — the Sunset Division — and the
Aussies chased the Japs down the very trail up which they
came so confidently a few months before.
Typical of the heroes of this battle was Cpl. Carlton C.
Tidrick of Belton, Mont. Tidrick’s squad was sent out on a
mission near a Jap stronghold, which opened up on the Yanks
with machine guns and automatic rifles. Tidrick was hit three
times, and Pvt. Kenneth E. Paul, an ex-farmer from Big Fork,
Mont., was also wounded.
Bleeding so heavily that his squad pleaded with him to
get to safety, Tidrick thought quick. He knew that crawling
back might mean death. But he also knew that Paul was badly
injured and that the lieutenant had to have information of the
Jap position.
Half carrying, half dragging Paul back to the platoon,
Tidrick returned the big farmer over to the Medics but refused
treatment himself until he had given the lieutenant details
of the Jap positions. Concerning the rest of his squad, he
said: "If the others aren’t hit as badly as I am they can wait
and get back afterwards. If they’re hit worse than I am, they’re
dead." Then he collapsed. Tidrick’s commander recommended
him for the DSC and the Silver Star.
Advance man for his rifle platoon, Sgt. Joe Oliphant of
Fort Worth, Tex., edged up to within a few feet of some Japs
in fox holes. They fired on him and he gave them a few bursts
with his tommy gun. Evidently the Japs thought Oliphant had
a lot of men with him for they got out of the fox holes and
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WHAT OTHERS SAID
started to run back to other positions. Before they could get
there, however, Oliphant sprayed them with his tommy gun
dropped most of them, releasing his trigger when he realized
he had only five more shots left. When his platoon caught up
with him, Oliphant was saving his last five bullets to defend
himself. Sprawled before him were twelve dead Japs.
Pfc. Maurice Levy, former Chicago artist, made even a
bigger haul with his Garand. He sneaked through the Jap lines
to the edge of a path running from a machine-gun nest to other
Jap positions. Twenty-two Japs passed down that trail within
a few hours, and Levy killed every one of them. Finally the
Japs located Levy and got four bullets into him. But when his
pals captured the nest, they found Levy still eyeing the trail
for more victims.
S/Sgt. Johnnie Mohl is always up front when his men
attack. Mohl is from White Pine, Mont., and left Montana
State College in his junior year to join the Army. Together
with Cpl. Bill Rummel, former Hartford (Kans.) service-
station operator, Mohl crawled into the Jap perimeter one
night as part of a platoon plan of attack. Mohl and Rummel
crawled up to the pill boxes and poured lead into them. The
confused Japs were firing all over the place, not knowing
which were their own men and which were the Yanks.
Mohl and Rummel were having a good time until one of
their guns jammed and the other ran out of bullets.
"We got mad as hell that we had to throw away our guns
just when the fun started,” Mohl said. "But we had our poc-
kets full of grenades which we kept rolling into the pillboxes
until our men arrived.”
The battle up Sanananda Trail was made all the more diffi-
cult by New Guniea’s rainy season which had begun a few
weeks before. In several places the trail was under two or
three feet of water. On either side of the built-up trail were
swamps. Because the Japs had built their pillboxes and strong
positions on all available high ground commanding the trail,
the Yanks and Aussies had to advance and live for days in the
swamps and water.
Getting supplies through to American infantrymen in these
positions was a major problem. Sgt. Owen D. Gaskell, husky
supply man from Oregon, met his death this way. He had
waded through water skirting the Jap perimeter with a supply
squad bumped into a Jap machine-gun nest. He was shot
through the helmet but the bullet just grazed his head. He
motioned his squad to make a wide detour and go on as he
drew fire from the nest by tossing hand grenades at the gun
slits.
When his squad was safely past the nest with ammunition
and food for the Americans on the other side of the trail,
Gaskell went to join them. But the Japs had him spotted and
killed him.
It’s Hard To Get News In N.G. Jungle
By P. A. Rayner, " Telegraph ” War Correspondent
The war in this part of the Southwest Pacific area is the
most unsatisfactory kind of campaign I can imagine. The
largest land scrap was the battle for Buna, and that also was
anything but satisfactory to newsmen as battles go when meas-
ured with the African and Russian campaigns.
Once or twice the Buna battle pushed the second Middle
East campaign off the front pages of the world’s press, but I
think had the world’s Press known that Buna and Gona to-
gether were represented by a few native huts they might have
been given less prominence.
Never so far and most likely never in the mysterious future
will we war correspondents be able to sit on a pleasant hilltop
to enjoy an unobstructed view of land and air fighting on
the grand panoramic scale so long as this bushman’s kind of
warfare continues in the New Guinea theater.
We are still jockeying for topograpical pin points which
frequently are nameless until they become an objective.
Somewhere out of the all consuming jungle you occasionally
hear the whine of an artillery piece.
Then follows the solidified silence of nothingness, broken
only by the nerve wracking crack of a twig as one of our
patrols edges a little farther forward to peer through the Kunai
and swings around to make a surprise attack on a mokka which
is gnawing into his leg.
If you listen carefully straining the membrane of your ears
to the point where they muffle the frozen quiet you might
hear a rifle shot or the smack of a grenade, but you cannot
depend on that with any certainty.
That is the way it is right now in the general Mubo Sala-
maua region along the Komiatum trail. You think, eat, sleep
and act as though the jungle creeping Japanese are always
within sight and hearing, whether they are there or not.
It is only by being prepared for the worst that you can
hope to survive, and if the worst is not as bad as you thought
it might be, it is your advantage and you are thankful.
In this abyssmal void of dank and dripping greenery,
vigilance, quietness, stealth and cunning, backed up by inde-
fatigable patience, are greater weapons than guns and rifles
and bayonets.
He who is not alert, he who is noisy, and he who is unpre-
pared to wait his chance in this limbus fatuorum is truly lost,
as here surely is a fool’s paradise, in which death is waiting
with open arms for the unwary.
Here there can never be battle on the grand scale. In the
first place there is not room for spectacular maneuver. Move-
ments through the labyrinth of the New Guinea Gehenna is
tortuous and tiring. It is limited to stringlike tracks, where
men can go forward or back only in Indian file, so that it is
impossible for the aggressor to present a front that is more
imposing than five or six men wide and two or three men
deep.
This is most certainly a defender’s region. If he gets in
first and digs in on carefully selected heights he can command
every approach to his citadel.
If the only approaches to his position are along one-man
tracks, he requires little concentrated fire-power to hold them
off. That is the advantage the Japanese now enjoy around
Komiatum on the outskirts of Salamaua.
Air power used in co-operation with land troops can help
a great deal to soften the particular pockets of resistance and
it can harass communications and supply.
We have succeeded many times by this means, but it is
costly and it takes a long time, for the jungle keeps its secrets
very well.
Each Japanese hilltop pocket is like an island fortress in
the sea of jungle round about where just now the enemy has
the advantage of short supply lines.
Only three to fifteen miles out of Salamaua he is able to
pop up on some alternative hill if forced to retire in a way
that is like the underground tactics of the rabbit.
Even if we put 100,000 men into the outskirts of Salamaua
with the idea of flooding the region and overrunning the Japa-
nese islands of resistance they could not be used to full ad-
vantage.
Even if they could move forward in spearheads they could
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TROOP LISTS
205
not be supplied adequately in this wilderness. Sea control are important. They must be won back,
around the entire south-eastern coast of Papua would help Beyond that they are no incentive to the man who must
considerably. scale precipitous heights and worm his tortuous way through
For the time being, our entire movement in the Salamaua the kunai or wade knee deep in mud with a heavy pack on his
area is limited to the men we can maintain there, and this is back; whose bed is the cold ground where night catches him
again limited by the quantity of supplies and equipment we if he can afford to stop and who is nerve wracked in this war
can bring in by air. of nerves that harbours lurking death from the unseen sniper’s
When flying conditions are anything like reasonable we shot or an ambush along the track,
can, with hard work, maintain a fair force, but when the To the man who is doing the fighting, moving when he can,
weather closes down over the ranges, all supplies are cut and shooting when he can, resting when he can; to those who
reserves quickly dwindle. direct and observe him waiting and waiting while time slides
There is no grand scale fighting, and there is no spectacle. past on winged feet and money and supplies are spent with
Even the objectives in the bandit’s kind of war are insigni- seemingly little result, this is a most unsatisfactory, indefinite,
ficant hilltops and unhygienic native villages. Tactically they aggravating kind of war.
Buna-Gona-Sanananda
127 Infantry, with attachments
128 Infantry, with attachments
168 Infantry, with attachments
186 Infantry, with attachments
14 Infantry Brigade (Australian), with
attachments
18 Infantry Brigade (Australian), with
attachments
2/6 Armored Regiment (Australian)
2/1 Field Regiment (Australian), minus
2/5 Field Regiment (Australian), minus
2/6 Field Regiment (Australian)
13 Field Regiment (Australian), minus
CRE I Corps Troops (Australian)
Signals, I Corps (Australian)
1 Corps Salvage Unit (Australian)
15 Graves Registration Unit (Australian)
2 Field Hospital
COSC, Oro Bay
Salamaua: MacKechnie Force
1 Battalion, 162 Infantry
1 Platoon, Clearing Company, 116 Medical
Battalion
218 Field Artillery Battalion (less Battery A)
Company A, 116 Engineer Battalion (less one
platoon)
Detachment, 41 Signal Company
Detachment, 41 Quartermaster Company
Detachment, COSC, Oro Bay and Buna
Detachment, Battery C, 209 Coast Artillery
(AA)
Company A. Papuan Infantry Battalion
Companies A and D, 532 Boat & Shore
Regiment
Detachment, ANGAU
Detachment, 41 Division Medical Detachment
Salamaua: Coane Force
At Morobe
2 Battalion, 162 Infantry
Platoon, Cannon Company, 162 Infantry
Medical Detachment. 162 Infantry
1 Platoon, Clearing Company, 116 Medical
Battalion
Detachment, Battery C, 209 Coast Artillery
(AA)
Battery A, 218 Field Artillery Battalion
Troop D, 2/6 Field Regiment (Australian)
Detachment, COSC
Company A, 116 Medical Battalion
At Mageri Point
MacKechnie Force Rear Detachment
Detachment. Company A, 532 Engineers
( Amphib)
Detachment, Company D, 532 Engineers
(Amphib)
At Nassau Bay
Company A, Papuan Infantry Battalion
3 Battalion, 162 Infantry
Company A, 116 Engineer Battalion (less
platoon )
Platoon, AT Company, 162 Infantry
Company A, 532 Engineers (less
detachment)
Company D, 532 Engineers (less
detachment)
Detachment, Battery C, 209 Coast Artillery
(AA)
Detachment, 41 Signal Company
Troop Lists
Detachment, 41 Quartermaster Company
Detachment, COSC
Medical Detachment, 162 Infantry
16 Portable Hospital
Hollandia
41 Infantry Division (less one RCT)
Headquarters 41 Infantry Division
Hendquarters Company, 41 Infantry Division
41 Military Police Platoon
41 Infantry Division Band
41 Signal Company
116 Medical Battalion (less Company B)
41 Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop
41 Quartermaster Company
741 Ordnance (LM) Company
116 Engineer Battalion (less Company A)
Headquarters 41 Division Artillery
Headquarters Battery, 41 Division Artillery
218 Field Artillery Battalion
146 Field Artillery Battalion
205 Field Artillery Battalion
162 Infantry
186 Infantry
947 Field Artillery Battalion
641 TD Battalion (less Companies A and B)
Hq & Hq Battery, 116 AAA Group
165 AAA Gun Battalion
469 AAA AW Battalion
603 Tank Company (less one platoon)
69 Engineer Topographical Detachment
79 Engineer Combat Battalion
92 Evacuation Hospital
12 Portable Surgical Hospital
26 Portable Surgical Hospital
Company B, 262 Medical Battalion
Detachment, Company B, 442 Signal
Construction Company (Aviation)
Detachment, Battery B, 227 AAA Searchlight
Battalion
Platoon, 36 Military Police Company
31 Fighter Sub-Sector Unit
19 Repair Platoon, Company D, 583 Signal
Aviation Battalion
20 Repair Platoon, Company D, 583 Signal
Aviation Battalion
Shadow Relay Station, 1 Fighter Control
Navy Air Support Parties
14 Air Support Party
Beach Fire Support Parties
1881 Aviation Engineer Battalion
649 Ordnance Ammunition Company
Two AA Repair Teams, 253 Ordnance
Maintenance Company
993 Quartermaster Service Company
4189 Quartermaster Service Company
8522 Quartermaster Truck Company
Platoon, 2058 Quartermaster Truck Company
(Aviation)
601 Graves Registration Company (less
detachments)
532 Engineer Boat & Shore Regiment
Battery C, 236 AAA Searchlight Battalion
674 AAA Machine Gun Battery
675 AAA Machine Gun Battery
718 Coast Artillery Battery (155mm gun)
720 Coast Artillery Battery (155mm gun)
Provisional Coast Artillery Harbor Survey
Detachment SC Team No. 3
Provisional Coast Artillery Harbor Survey
Detachment SC Team No. 4
542 Engineer Boat & Shore Regiment (less
Boat Company)
Maintenance Detachment, 662 Boat
Maintenance Battalion
Hq & Hq Company, 1112 Engineer Combat
Group (less detachment)
Company B, 135 Medical Regiment
605 Medical Clearing Company
29 Malaria Survey Unit
5 Malaria Control Unit
56 Malaria Control Unit
27 Medical Supply Platoon (Aviation)
287 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
One AA Repair Team
One Detachment. Truck Maintenance
864 Engineer Aviation Battalion
860 Engineer Aviation Battalion
863 Engineer Aviation Battalion
Platoon, 477 Engineer Maintenance Company
Platoon, 453 Engineer Depot Company
Surveying Detachment, 650 Engineer
Topographical Battalion
567 Engineer Dump Truck Company
342 Quartermaster Depot Supply Company
(less two platoons)
Platoon, 812 Amphibious Truck Company
3818 Quartermaster Gas Supply Company
(less platoon)
273 Signal Construction Company
Detachment, 99 Signal Battalion
Platoon, 244 Port Company
296 Port Company
Two Platoons, 109 Quartermaster Bakery
Company
Aitape
163 Infantry RCT
Company B, 641 TD Battalion
383 AAA AW Battalion
Batteries B and C, 743 Coast Artillery (Gun)
Battalion
1 Platoon, Battery C, 227 AAA Searchlight
Battalion
Platoon, 603 Tank Company
Shore Battalion, 693 Engineer Boat & Shore
Regiment
Company A, 593 Engineer Boat & Shore
Regiment
27 Engineer Combat Battalion
Company A (Collecting), 135 Medical
Regiment
Company H (Clearing). 136 Medical Regiment
54 Evacuation Hospital
3 Portable Surgical Hospital
27 Malaria Survey Unit
53 Malaria Control Unit
49 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
Detachment, 629 Ordnance Ammunition
Company
1 AA Repair Team
Unit 3, 94 Chemical Composite Company
Detachment, 16 Signal Operations Battalion
Detachment, Headquarters Company, 99
Signal Battalion
Detachment, Company A, 60 Signal Battalion
Detachment, 41 Signal Company
62 Works Wing (RAAF)
13 Survey & Design Unit (RAAF)
5 Mobile Works Squadron (RAAF)
6 Mobile Works Squadron (RAAF)
7 Mobile Works Squadron (RAAF)
10 Works Support Unit (RAAF)
Elements, 4 Maintenance Unit (RAAF)
872 Engineer Aviation Battalion (AB)
874 Engineer Aviation Battalion (AB)
876 Engineer Aviation Battalion (AB)
Platoon, 4095 Quartermaster Service Company
244 Port Company (less platoon)
Platoon, 112 Quartermaster Bakery Company
Section, 601 Graves Registration Company
Platoon, 342 Quartermaster Depot Supply
Company
Platoon, 466 Amphibious Truck Company
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TROOP LISTS
2058 Quartermaster Truck Company (less
platoon)
15 Air Liaison Party
1 Platoon, 5th Special Service Company
Wakde
168 Infantry RCT
218 Field Artillery Battalion
Hq & Hq Battery, 191 Field Artillery Group
One Company, 641 TD Battalion
166 AAA Gun Battalion (less two batteries)
202 AAA AW Battalion (less two batteries)
Two Batteries, 202 AAA AW Battalion
Battery B (less platoon), 286 AAA
Searchlight Battalion
Platoon, 608 Tank Company
Shore Battalion (less one company) 598
Engineer Boat & Shore Regiment
One Boat Company, 542 Engineer Boat &
Shore Regiment
Maintenance Detachment, 562 Engineer Boat
Maintenance Company
Detachment. Hq & Hq Co, 1112 Engineer
Combat Group
27 Engineer Combat Battalion
Unit No. 8, 94 Chemical Composite Company
69 Malaria Control Unit
88 Malaria Survey Unit
Company A, 135 Medical Regiment (less
platoon)
Company H, 135 Medical Regiment (less
platoon)
54 Evacuation Hospital (less 200 beds)
2 Portable Surgical Hospital
8 Portable Surgical Hospital
11 Portable Surgical Hospital
49 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
One AA Repair Team
One Detachment, Truck Maintenance
Detachment, 629 Ordnance Ammunition
Company
886 Engineer Aviation Battalion
617 Engineer Equipment Company
2 Platoon, 458 Engineer Depot Company
Survey Detachment, 660 Engineer
Topographical Battalion
1 Section, 8 Platoon, 601 Graves Registration
Company
1 Platoon, 8750 Quartermaster Truck Company
818 Port Company (less platoon)
Two Sections, 1 Platoon, 112 Quartermaster
Bakery Company
One Section, 1 Platoon, 689 Quartermaster
Laundry Company
Detachment, 558 Quartermaster Railhead
Company
Platoon, 4189 Quartermaster Service Company
258 Signal Construction Company
Detachment, 16 Signal Operations Battalion
Detachment, Headquarters Company, 99 Signal
Battalion
2 Air Liaison Party
8 Air Liaison Party
10 Air Liaison Party
Headquarters Detachment, I Fighter Wing
(SP)
82 Fighter Sub-Sector
Assault Echelon, Company A, 588 Battalion
1 LW Repair Platoon, Company A. 583d
Battalion
2 LW Repair Platoon. Company A, 588d
Battalion
8 LW Repair Platoon. Company A. 588
Battalion
4 LW Repair Platoon, Company A, 583
Battalion
6 LW Repair Platoon, Company A, 588
Battalion
Advance Echelon, Headquarters Platoon and
Plotting Platoon, Company A, 583 Signal
AW Battalion
AWW Control (GO) NGF
Advance Echelon. 308 Bombardment Wing
Company A, 929 Signal Battalion (Sep) ASC
Detachment, 15 Weather Squadron
Detachment, 5 AACS
Hq & Hq Squadron, 46 Service Group
29 Portable Hospital
307 Airdrome Hospital
336 Service Squadron
1538 Ordnance S&M Company
2027 Quartermaster Truck Company
481 Quartermaster Platoon
348 Fighter Group
84 Airdrome Squadron
10 Service Squadron
1828 Ordnance S&M Company
2012 Quartermaster Truck Company
1098 Signal Company
82 Reconnaissance Squadron (F)
100 Service Squadron
1832 Ordnance S&M Company
2462 Quartermaster Truck Company
1094 Signal Company (SG)
1088 Quartermaster Company (SG)
Bal, 808 Bombardment Wing
85 Airdrome Squadron
36 Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group
17 Reconnaissance Squadron, 71 Recon Group
32 Sector (Fighters)
I Fighter Control Squadron
II Repair Platoon, Company D, 565 Battalion
12 Repair Platoon, Company D. 565 Battalion
13 Repair Platoon, Company D, 565 Battalion
Headquarters and Plotting Platoons. Company
D. 565 Battalion
1 Repair Platoon. 724 Signal AW Company
2 Platoon, 709 Signal AW Company
Rear Echelon, Company A, 688 Signal
Battalion
69 Service Squadron
1541 Ordnance S&M Company
2015 Quartermaster Truck Company
415 Quartermaster Platoon, AD
8 Fighter Group (less 86 Squadron)
Headquarters 71 Reconnaissance Group
110 Reconnaissance Squadron (F)
43 Bombardment Group (H)
Biak
41 Infantry Division (less 168 RCT and 218
FA Battalion)
Headquarters 41 Infantry Division
Headquarters Company, 41 Infantry Division
41 Military Police Platoon (less detachment)
41 Infantry Division Band
41 Signal Company
116 Medical Battalion (less Company B)
41 Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop
41 Quartermaster Company
741 Ordnance Company (LM)
116 Engineer Combat Battalion (less Company
A)
Hq & Hq Battery. 41 Division Artillery
146 Field Artillery Battalion
205 Field Artillery Battalion
162 Infantry
186 Infantry
947 Field Artillery Battalion
121 Field Artillery Battalion
Hq & Hq Battery. 208 AAA Group
166 AAA Gun Battalion
476 AAA AW Battalion
Battery C, 286 AAA Searchlight Battalion
674 AAA Machine Gun Battery
676 AAA Machine Gun Battery
718 Coast Artillery Battery (155mm gun)
720 Coast Artillery Battery ( 155mm gun)
Provisional Coast Artillery Harbor Survey
Detachment SC Team No. 8
Provisional Coast Artillery Harbor Survey
Detachment CA Team No. 4
Company D, 641 TD Battalion
603 Truck Company (less platoon)
542 Engineer Boat & Shore Regiment (less
Company D)
Maintenance Detachment, 562 Engineer Boat
Maintenance Battalion
Hq & Hq Company, 1112 Engineer Combat
Group (less detachment)
Unit No. 2, 94 Chemical Composite Company
Company B. 135 Medical Regiment
Company B. 262 Medical Battalion
605 Medical Clearing Company
92 Evacuation Hospital
29 Malaria Survey Unit
5 Malaria Control Unit
56 Malaria Control Unit
27 Medical Supply Platoon
12 Portable Surgical Hospital
26 Portable Surgical Hospital
649 Ordnance Ammunition Company
287 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
AA Repair Team, 253 Ordnance Maintenance
Company
Detachment. Truck Maintenance
864 Engineer Aviation Battalion
860 Engineer Aviation Battalion
868 Engineer Aviation Battalion
Platoon, 477 Engineer Maintenance Company
1 Platoon, 453 Engineer Depot Company
Survey Detachment, 650 Engineer
Topographical Battalion
567 Engineer Dump Truck Company
998 Quartermaster Service Company
4189 Quartermaster Service Company (less
platoon )
3818 Quartermaster Gas Supply Company
( less platoon )
8522 Quartermaster Truck Company
Platoon. 2058 Quartermaster Truck Company
296 Port Company
Platoon, 244 Port Company
Two Platoons, 109 Quartermaster Bakery
Company
601 Graves Registration Company (less
detachments)
342 Quartermaster Depot Supply Company
(less two platoons)
Platoon. 812 Amphibious Truck Company
273 Signal Construction Company
Detachment, 99 Signal Battalion
8 Fighter Group
2 Air Liaison Party
14 Air Liaison Party
Detachment. I Fighter Wing
Company B. 683 Signal AW Battalions
(less detachments)
Headquarters and Plotting Platoons, 583
Signal AW Battalion
8 Fighter Control Squadron
Headquarters 1, 2, 20 Platoons, Company A,
565 Signal AW Battalion
1 Platoon, Company A, 574 Signal AW
Battalion
1 Platoon. 724 Signal AW Battalion
Plotting Platoon, Company E, 565 Signal AW
Battalion
Company A. 929 Signal Battalion
Detachment. 5 AACS
84 Airdrome Squadron
4 Portable Surgical Hospital
Hq & Hq Squadron, 7 Service Group
10 Service Squadron
1062 Quartermaster Company (SG)
1098 Signal Company (SG)
1828 Ordnance S&M Company
2012 Quartermaster Truck Company
49 Fighter Group
69 Service Squadron
1541 Ordnance S&M Company
2015 Quartermaster Truck Company
detachment
421 Night Fighter Squadron
308 Bombardment Wing (less Advance
Detachment)
85 Airdrome Squadron
17 Reconnaissance Squadron
35 Fighter Group
80 Airdrome Squadron
478 Service Squadron
1586 Ordnance S&M Company
82 Reconnaissance Squadron
Detachment, 5287 Ordnance Battalion
1910 Ordnance Ammunition Company
198 Ordnance Depot Company
1621 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
detachment
25 Photo Reconnaissance Squadron
Headquarters, 71 Reconnaissance Group
110 Reconnaissance Squadron
43 Bombardment Squadron (H)
481 Service Squadron
1798 Ordnance S&M Company
1927 Quartermaster Truck Company
Victor III : Palawan
186 Infantry RCT
167 Field Artillery Battalion
Company C, 116 Engineer Battalion
Company C. 116 Medical Battalion
476 AAA AW Battalion (less Batteries C and
D)
Battery A, 166 AAA Gun Battalion
Detachment (3 SLs), 1 Platoon, Battery B,
237 AAA SL Battalion
Company A, 532 Engineer Boat & Shore
Regiment
Company F, 532 Engineer Boat & Shore
Regiment
Company A, 658 Amphibious Tractor Battalion
Detachment. 278 Chemical Service Platoon
1897 Engineer Aviation Battalion
619 Engineer Base Equipment Company
2 Platoon. 1458 Engineer Boat Maintenance
Company
Detachment, 783 Engineer Petroleum
Distributing Company
168 Evacuation Hospital
67 Malaria Control Unit
41 Malaria Survey Unit
26 Portable Surgical Hospital
Detachment, 623 Ordnance Ammunition
Company
Detachment, 267 Ordnance Maintenance
Company
158 Ordnance Service Detachment (Bomb
Disposal )
Detachment. 119 Ordnance Medium
Maintenance Company
1 Section. 4 Platoon, 119 Quartermaster
Bakery Company
Detachment. 4297 Quartermaster Gas Supply
Company
3 Platoon (less 2 Section), 601 Graves
Registration Company
182 Quartermaster Laundry Platoon (Type B)
301 Quartermaster Railhead Company (less 2
Platoon )
3628 Quartermaster Truck Company
1 Platoon, Company C, 62 Signal Battalion
10 Radio Station Section, 832 Signal Service
Battalion
Combat Photo Unit No. 1
1 Platoon, 296 Port Company
1 Platoon, 808 Amphibious Truck Company
159 Finance Disbursing Unit
12 PCAU
705 Army Postal Unit
XIII Fighter Command (less Rear Echelon)
Rear Echelon. XIII Fighter Command
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207
347 Fighter Group
Detachment. 85 Fighter Wing
42 Bombardment Group (M)
Detachment. 419 Night Fighter Squadron
One Flight, 2 A SR Squadron
320 Fighter Control Squadron
Headquarters, 1, 2. 3 and 5 Platoons, Company
A. 574 SAW Battalion
1034 Signal Company <SG)
Company D, 683 SAW Battalion
Platoon, Company C, 574 SAW Battalion
22 GO Team, Company D, 583 SAW Battalion
2 Platoon. Company A, 429 Signal
Construction Battalion
3207 Detachment, 3367 Signal Service
Battalion (ACS)
3684 Detachment. 3367 Signal Service
Battalion (ACS)
Hq & Hq Squadron. 6 Service Group
38 Air Service Squadron
82 Air Service Squadron
1619 Ordnance SAM Company
1655 Ordnance SAM Company
1943 Quartermaster Truck Company
2013 Quartermaster Truck Company
1154 Quartermaster Company (SG)
11 Airdrome Squadron
12 Airdrome Squadron
886 Chemical Company (AO)
14 Portable Surgical Hospital
208 Malaria Survey Unit
84 Malaria Control Unit
Signal Headquarters Company, AWS, XIII
Fighter Command
3 Radar Calibration Detachment
Detachment. 62 AACS
Detachments Nos. 84 and 98, 20 Weather
Squadron
Mobile Communications Unit
C-8
8 N 3 B
B 4 B
C-8
C-17
C-9
G-9
C B Detachment
670 Medical Clearing Company
Detachment. 295 JASCO
84 Naval Construction Battalion
Acorn 46
Acorn 47
Detachment. Hq A Hq Company. 682 Engineer
Boat A Shore Regiment
Victor IV : Zamboanga
41 Infantry Division (less one RCT)
205 AAA AW Battalion
166 AAA Gun Battalion (less Batteries
A and B)
2 Platoon. Battery B, 237 AAA Searchlight
Battalion
543 Engineer Boat A Shore Regiment (less
boat battalion)
Company C. 543 Engineer Boat A Shore
Regiment
Platoon. 1462 Engineer Boat Maintenance
Company
Company A, 716 Tank Battalion
658 Amphibious Tractor Battalion (less
Company A)
273 Chemical Service Platoon (less
detachment)
873 Engineer Aviation Battalion
788 Engineer Petroleum Distributing Company
(less detachments)
1418 Engineer Mobile Searchlight
Maintenance Unit
8 Portable Surgical Hospital
12 Portable Surgical Hospital
2 Field Hospital
5 Malaria Survey Unit
90 Malaria Control Unit
91 Malaria Control Unit
623 Ordnance Ammunition Company (less
detachment)
119 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
(less detachment)
Detachment. 267 Ordnance Maintenance
Company
Detachment, 3608 Ordnance Heavy
Maintenance Company
390 Quartermaster Truck Company
4297 Quartermaster Gas Supply Company (less
detachment)
354 Quartermaster Laundry Platoon, 2 Field
Hospital
3 Platoon (less 2 Section), 8064 Graves
Registration Company
2 Platoon. 301 Quartermaster Railhead
Company
4 Platoon (less one section), 119
Quartermaster Bakery Company
Company C (less 1 Platoon), 52 Signal
Construction Battalion
203 Signal Radar Maintenance Unit (Type C)
8 Radio Station Section, 882 Signal Service
Battalion
Combat Photo Unit No. 6
296 Port Company (less platoon)
608 Amphibious Truck Company (less platoon)
Mobile Communications Unit
B 4 D Port Direction
C-3 Radio Station Operating Base
C8 Visual Station Operating Base
C9 Radio Station Harbor Defenses
1/2 D-10
G-9 Dispensary
3 N 3 D Camp, Huts
118 Naval Construction Battalion
PT Advancing Base (3)
PT Operating Base (7 A 16)
Victor IV: Sulu Archipelago
2 Battalion. 163 Infantry
Platoon. Company A, 116 Engineer Battalion
Battery B, 146 Field Artillery Battalion
Detachment, Air Section, 41 Division Artillery
Platoon, Company B, 658 Amphibious Tractor
Battalion
Platoon, Battery C. 202 AAA AW Battalion
Company A. 873 Engineer Aviation Battalion
Shore Detachment, 548 Engineer Boat A Shore
Regiment
Battalion Section, Company B. 116 Medical
Battalion
12 Portable Surgical Hospital
Victor V
Hq A Hq Company, X Corps
Hq A Hq Battery, X Corps Artillery
24 Infantry Division
31 Infantry Division
Hq A Hq Battery, 116 AAA Group
388 AAA AW Battalion
487 AAA AW Battalion
496 AAA Gun Battalion
Battery B, 166 AAA Gun Battalion
Battery B. 222 AAA Searchlight Battalion
Three SL sections. 1 Platoon, Battery B, 237
AAA SL Battalion
143 AAA Operations Detachment
538 Engineer Boat ft Shore Regiment
Company A, 263 Medical Battalion
Detachment, 168 Ordnance Maintenance
Company
506 Engineer Light Ponton Company
181 Field Artillery Battalion (165mm
howitzer)
655 Field Artillery Battalion (8-inch howitzer)
988 Field Artillery Battalion (155mm gun)
640 Tank Destroyer Battalion
180 Chemical Composite Platoon
96 Engineer General Service Regiment
Hq ft Hq Company, 932 Engineer
Construction Group
240 Engineer Construction Battalion
1874 Engineer Aviation Battalion
490 Engineer Base Equipment Company
441 Engineer Depot Company (less two
platoons)
Platoon, 441 Engineer Depot Company
570 Engineer Dump Truck Company
477 Engineer Maintenance Company (less two
platoons)
Detachment, 783 Engineer Petroleum
Distributing Company
Survey Platoon, 67 Engineer Topographical
Company
30 Evacuation Hospital
99 Evacuation Hospital
52 Field Hospital (less 1 Hospital Unit)
90 Field Hospital
172 Station Hospital
361 Station Honpital
2 Portable Surgical Hospital
13 Portable Surgical Hospital
23 Portable Surgical Hospital
57 Portable Surgical Hospital
62 Portable Surgical Hospital
64 Portable Surgical Hospital
Platoon. 932 Medical Ambulance Company
395 Medical Collecting Company
411 Medical Collecting Company
603 Medical Clearing Company
656 Medical Clearing Company
74 Medical Depot Company
4 Malaria Control Unit
15 Malaria Control Unit
54 Malaria Control Unit
56 Malaria Control Unit
60 Malaria Control Unit
102 Malaria Control Unit
29 Malaria Survey Unit
401 Medical Composite Unit (Malaria Survey)
204 Malaria Survey Unit
Hq ft Hq Detachment. 194 Ordnance Battalion
642 Ordnance Ammunition Company
Detachment, 578 Ordnance Ammunition
Company
310 Ordnance Depot Company (less
detachment )
Detachment. 810 Ordnance Depot Company
509 Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company
Detachment. 558 Ordnance Heavy Maintenance
Company
108 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
291 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
Teams 6 and 8, 3073 Ordnance Composite
Company
181 Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad
182 Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad
Hq ft Hq Detachment, 195 Quartermaster
Battalion
Hq ft Hq Detachment. 681 Quartermaster
Battalion
Two sections, 3 Platoon, 109 Quartermaster
Bakery Company
4 Platoon. 370 Quartermaster Bakery Company
686 Quartermaster Bakery Company (less 3
and 4 Platoons)
3 Platoon, 848 Quartermaster Depot Supply
Company
849 Quartermaster Gas Supply Company
1 Platoon. 3064 Graves Registration Company
3 Section. 3 Platoon, 8064 Graves Registration
Company
8 Section. 110 Graves Registration Platoon
1 Platoon (less 2 Section), 680 Quartermaster
Laundry Company
2 Platoon (less section), 588 Quartermaster
Laundry Company
174 Quartermaster Laundry Platoon (Type B)
176 Quartermaster Laundry Platoon (Type B)
241 Quartermaster Laundry Detachment (Type
B)
417 Quartermaster Refrigeration Detachment
418 Quartermaster Refrigeration Detachment
1 Platoon, 284 Quartermaster Salavage
Collecting Company
983 Quartermaster Service Company (less
platoon)
1 Platoon, 983 Quartermaster Service Company
3746 Quartermaster Truck Company (with
attached 3842 QM Service Det)
8770 Quartermaster Truck Company (with
attached 3347 QM Service Det)
Company A, 98 Signal Battalion
99 Signal Battalion (less Companies A and C)
2 Message Center Team Type 2 (DB), 832
Signal Service Battalion
2 Radio Telegraph Fixed Station 2-pos (El),
882 Signal Service Battalion
15 Message Center Team Type 2 (DB), 832
Signal Service Battalion
15 Radio Telegraph Fixed Station 2-pos (El).
832 Signal Service Battalion
20 Radio Carrier Terminal Team, 8169 Signal
Service Battalion
26 Radio Link Repeater Team. 8169 Signal
Service Battalion
27 Radio Link Repeater Team, 8169 Signal
Service Battalion
3 Radio Repair Section. 176 Signal Repair
Company
98 Signal Radar Maintenance Team (Type A)
298 Signal Radar Maintenance Team (Type C)
824 Amphibious Truck Company
297 Port Company
818 Port Company
159 Army Postal Unit
197 Finance Disbursing Section
216 Military Police Company
14 PCA Unit
29 PCA Unit
30 PCA Unit
1 Platoon. 6 Special Service Company
Hedron MAG 24
VMSB 244
VMSB 133
VMSB241
One flight. 650 Night Fighter Squadron
X Fighter Squadron. MAG 14
25 Liaison Squadron
Three Support Aircraft Parties (7 Tactical Air
Communications Sq)
Seron MAG 24
96 AAF Weather Squadron
Detachments 8691 and 8717 of 8867 Signal
Service Battalion
Detachments, 66 AACS
Three Marine AW Squadrons
Platoon, 2012 Quartermaster Truck Company
819 Fighter Control Squadron
Headquarters 551 Signal AW Battalion
Headquarters. Plotting and 1, 2, 8, 4, 5
Platoons, Company A, 661 SAW Battalion
Headquarters. Plotting and 1, 2. 3, 4, 5
Platoons, Company B, 651 SAW Battalion
Mobile Communications Unit
E 21 PT Portable Base Equipment
C-3 Radio Station Operating Base (Small)
B4B Port Director (Med)
C-8 Visual Station
C-9 Radio Station
G-10, 10-Bed Dispensary
NIA, 250-Man Camp
Malaria Control Team
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TROOP LISTS
Small Boat Pool
Small Motor Pool
Naval CB Detachment
NABU No. 11
Navy Post Office (Small)
Detachment, 2773 Engineer Base Reproduction
Company
Advance Section. 3 Medical Laboratory
191 Finance Disbursing Section
12 Special Service Company (less 2, 3 and 4
Platoons)
164 MP POW Processing Company (less 1 and
2 Platoons)
2 S&I Section, 3169 Signal Service Battalion
162 Infantry RCT
Company C (less platoon) and Company D.
543 Engineer Boat & Shore Regiment
295 JASCO (less detachment)
3 Battalion, 163 Infantry RCT
658 Amphibious Tractor Battalion (less
Company B and 1 Platoon, Company A)
716 Tank Battalion (less Companies B and C)
80 Chemical Mortar Battalion (less Companies
A and B)
158 Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad
Detachment, 623 Ordnance Ammunition
Company
Company A, 239 Engineer Construction
Battalion
Company C, 865 Engineer Aviation Battalion
008 Port Company
Occupation of Japan
Headquarters, 41 Infantry Division
Headquarters Company, 41 Infantry Division
162 Infantry
163 Infantry
186 Infantry
Hq & Hq Battery, 41 Division Artillery
146 Field Artillery Battalion
167 Field Artillery Battalion
205 Field Artillery Battalion
218 Field Artillery Battalion
116 Medical Battalion
116 Engineer Combat Battalion
41 Division MP Platoon ^
741 Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
41 Signal Company
41 Cavalry Company
41 Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop
4 1 Quartermaster Company
59 Ordnance Ammunition Company
354 Quartermaster Laundry Section
58 Chemical General Service Company
273 Chemical Service Platoon
58 Historical Team
411 Medical Collecting Company
656 Medical Clearing Company
8 Portable Surgical Hospital
12 Portable Surgical Hospital
2 Field Hospital
90 Malaria Control Detachment
91 Malaria Control Detachment
119 Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
983 Quartermaster Service Company
390 Quartermaster Truck Company
3 Platoon. 3064 Graves Registration Company
808 Amphibious Truck Company
Headquarters 52 CIC Area Detachment
41 CIC Detachment
181 Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad
623 Ordnance Ammunition Company
Company C, 533 Engineer Boat & Shore
Regiment
3 Platoon, 1461 Boat Maintenance Company
Platoon, Company B. 5 Amphibious Force
Recovery Team No. 17
THE 4 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION
At 0930 hours, 25 August 1945, a representative group
from the units of the 4 1st Infantry Division met in the Divi-
sion Chapel in the city of Zamboanga on Mindanao Island
in the Philippines, and at the proposal of the Commanding
General, Maj. Gen. Jens A. Doe, launched into being an
organization to be known as the 4 1st Infantry Division Asso-
ciation. The membership of this Association was to be com-
posed of those men who had served with the 4 1st Infantry
Division during its period of active service with the Army
in periods of national emergency or in time of war.
The first objective of the organization was to be the publi-
cation of a history of the 4lst Infantry Division from the
date of its entry into federal service, 16 September 1940, to
the date of its inactivation in World War II, which turned
out to be 31 December 1945. It was provided that a copy
of that history was to go to each Association member, and to
the next of kin of all Division men who gave their lives in
World War II. Another Association function would be the
maintenance of a directory service, which is to be available
to members of the Association for so long as funds permit.
Other activities were to be assumed as the need arose or the
membership dictated through the Board of Governors.
Subsequent meetings were held prior to the departure of
the Division for the occupation of Japan, and on 7 September
1945, the Constitution and By-Laws were accepted by the
organizing group. Occupational duties prevented further
action until all units were established in their areas in the
Hiro-Kure-Hiroshima districts of Japan. However, on 12
October the Board of Governors convened and started the
chain of events which culminated in fully establishing the
4 1st Infantry Division Association as a responsible organiza-
tion capable of carrying out its announced objectives.
William F. McCartney, a former newspaperman with the
Evening News of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and a member
of the 273d Chemical Service Platoon, then attached to the
4 1st Division, was selected as editor of the history and work
on that project got under way immediately. Charles C. Carver,
then of Portland, Oregon, who was serving as a chief warrant
officer, was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer.
Inactivation of the Division on 31 December 1945 neces-
sitated removal of the business and editorial activities to the
United States. The business office was located with the
Secretary-Treasurer in Portland, while the writing and editing
of the history was transferred with the editor to Washington,
D.C., where all material for compiling the proposed volume
was on file in the Department of the Army.
During this period of transition the Association continued
to grow, and on 3 December 1946 became a corporation under
the laws of the State of Oregon, with full powers and respon-
sibilities of a non-profit corporation. Such a move was con-
sidered advisable inasmuch as the membership had grown to
almost 7,700 by that time and the publishing of the history
had become a national project of considerable proportions,
thus requiring the maximum protection provided by law.
With the completion and distribution of the history of the
4lst Infantry Division an assured fact, the future of the Asso-
ciation lay in the hands of the members through the duly
elected Board of Govenors. Its perpetuation during the com-
ing years as a conservative, non -political force will have much
to do with preserving the ideals which too often are lost
sight of in the heat of daily living. Those men of the 4 1st
Infantry Division who wrote the Constitution and By-Laws
had that thought in mind when they wrote the following
Preamble, which is offered to all who served:
"We, who have served with the 4lst Infantry Division in
the war against Japan, in order to perpetuate the memories
of its activities against the enemy, of our gallant dead, and
of the glorious comradeship forged on the fields of battle,
do hereby associate ourselves together into an Association to
be known as the 4 1st Infantry Division Association."
The officials at the time of publication of this history were
as follows:
Honorary President: Maj. Gen. Jens A. Doe, Fort Ord,
California; President: Frank W. Kerr, Clinton, New York;
First Vice President: Robert T. Pantzer, Chester, Montana;
Second Vice President: Vacant; Editor of the 4lst Infantry
Division History: William F. McCartney, Marysville, Penn-
sylvania; Secretary-Treasurer: Charles C. Carver, Sherwood,
Oregon; Board of Govenors: Hargis Westerfield, Blooming-
ton, Indiana; Harry E. Hansel, Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa; Richard
S. Newens, Alexandria, Virgina; William H. Winchester,
Long Island City, New York; Omar O. Orr, Huntington Park,
California; Gerald F. Cook, Warrenton, Oregon; William W.
Heal, Provo, Utah; Franklin L. Kliever, Lebanon, Oregon;
Jack L. Eipper, Long Beach, California; Harold G. Maison,
Salem, Oregon; Lt. Col. Lee L. Alfred, Portland, Oregon; and
Charles M. Thomas, Dallas, Oregon.
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A NOTE ON THIS BOOK
This book is published by the Infantry Journal Press, one of
the publishing activities of the U.S. Infantry Association. It
was produced under the editorial supervision of Orville C.
Shirey, designed by Mark A. Rollins, printed by The Reese
Press and bound by Moore & Company. The text has been set
in Intertype Garamond.
The U.S. Infantry Association also publishes the Infantry
Journal, a monthly magazine for the ground combat forces of
the United States. The U. S. Infantry Association is a non-profit
organization composed of soldiers and civilians interested in
all phases of national defense. Its various publications cover
all levels of military affairs, from technical books on weapons
and tactics, to historical, psychological, political and economic
books on the higher aspects of war. Its membership includes
all branches of the active, reserve and retired armed services:
Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard, Coast
Guard, Organized Reserve Corps, and civilians. Readers desir-
ing catalogs of its publications, and information on member-
ship, can obtain them from the U.S. Infantry Association, 1115
Seventeenth St., N.W., Washington 6, D.C.
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4
I PHILIPPINES
OCCUPATION AREA PALAWAN.
ZAMBOANGA AND SULU ARCHIPELAGO
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ZAMBOANGA
marshall
CAROL I N E
0 o 00
00 ts
00 0 o
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ARCHIPELAGO <J
:
INVADED BIAK
163D RCT FROM TOWNSVILLE
TO PORT MORESBY(\X > 1
26 DEC 1943. i X J !
, / DEFEATED JAPS ( L. f
AT SANANANDA. } N | |
186TH REGT RELIEVED 32D DIV^ ! j
AT BUNA AND GONA \! i
IN JAN 1943
167TH FA BN TRAINED ^
AT TOWNSVILLE V
& JAN TO NOV 1943 '
o DIVISION MOVED TO
° ®ri, , ft ROCKHAMPTON
. L ' 19 JULY 1942
. SACAMAUA
S» potfr MORESBY cA
m nr*t *
j* i *•
I 1 A 162ND REGT TO NEW GUINEA
II * 8 FEB 1943. °
j J / DEFEATED JAPS \
| | / AT SALAMAUA
4//
>§► TOWNSVILLE
ROCKHAMPTON
))
//I
163D AND 186TH REGTS ^
RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA y
IN JULY 1943. S
^162D REGT AND ARTY/
J RETURNED IN SEPTyi
0 /
° S
I BRISBANE jf
ENTIRE DIVISION COLLECTED 9 ^ * 7 " *
AT SEYMOUR. ABOUT 60 MILES INLAND^Jelbourne
FROM MELBOURNE ^
// jy
t t SYDNEY
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/r ) ^
{£-> {^ R TvTdTa"“*942
AUCKLAND
NEW
ZEALAND
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INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
Ia , aM lama „ mu, ,,,
3 9015 01537 7164
186TH REGT. 167TH.
218TH AND 205TH FA BNS
LEFT SAN FRANCISCO
25 APRIL 1942: J
ARRIVED AUSTRALIA S
13 MAY 1942 ^ 163D REGT, *
13 MAY 1942 * K 7TH FA BN D|v H q\
JT and other units left'
f SAN FRANCISCO
S 19 MARCH 1942.
ARRIVED AUSTRALIA
S APRIL 6 1942
*4
/
GILBERT IS.
'V
./
J'/
y 162ND REGT
/ AND 641ST TD BN
* FROM FORT LEWIS
TO FORT DIX
IN FEB 1942:
LEFT BROOKLYN NAVY YARD
3 MARCH 1942
FOR BORO BORO
IN SOCIETY ISLANDS VIA
PANAMA CANAb>^
ARRIVING 25 MARCH 1942
y
SOCIETY ISLANDS
y
CONVOY SPLITS:
PART TO AUCKLAND.
part TO BRISBANE
ROUTE OF THE 41 ST INFANTRY DIVISION
IN WORLD WAR II
O
r
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